Senate bill seeks creation of automated, online voter registration system

A bill seeking to establish an automated and online system for voter registration has been filed in the Senate.

Senator Mark Villar has filed Senate Bill 2254 to encourage citizens to register as voter registration “appears to be a time consuming and exhausting process, and could be the main reason why many qualified citizens are deterred from registering, rendering them unable to participate during the elections.”

Under the proposed law, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) shall, as far as practicable, adopt, design, and use an automated and online system for voter registration that enables the electronic and online filing and processing of the application for registration, transfer of registration, reactivation, correction of voter registration entries, and such other requests and processes relative to the voter’s registration and records.

The Comelec shall also use the same automated and online system for the verification and approval of registrations.

If the online verification of the application or request is not feasible in the meantime, Villar proposed that the system shall allow the applicant to submit his or her application or request through the Comelec’s online platform.

The same application and the information contained therein, including the demographics of the applicant, shall be processed electronically, and shall be automatically stored in the Comelec database for pending voter registration application or requests. The system shall promptly provide the applicant with complete and detailed information as to the steps required to complete the application or request.

Villar included a provision in SB 2254 where the applicant will be automatically informed of the successful submission of his or her application or request.

The system shall also provide a detailed instruction on how the applicant may follow up or complete the application for registration or requests, the estimated time to complete the processing of the application or request, details on the notice of approval or disapproval, further remedies available in case of disapproval, and such other information necessary to promptly assist the applicant with his or her application or request.

Further, the bill mandates the Comelec to design, devise, adopt, or use a secure internet website or online platform where applications may be filed by voters and applicants.

Security measures shall be ensured to protect the completeness, accuracy, and integrity of voter registration forms, applications and information submitted and filed through such internet website or online platform.

The bill likewise proposed that within 10 days from the effectivity of the proposed law, the Comelec shall implement a program where persons registered under the existing National ID Program shall be automatically registered as voter of the place of their declared residence upon reaching the allowable voting age.

While Villar proposed the creation of an automated and online voter registration system, he said Comelec offices shall continue accepting applications during office hours.

A similar bill was filed by Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva last July 14,2022. —Hana Bordey/KBK, GMA Integrated News