Replacement of a Lost Voter ID

A Philippine Legal Primer (2025 edition)

Key takeaway – Since late 2017 the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has stopped printing the plastic “Voter ID” and now issues a Voter Certification instead. The law on replacement of a lost ID therefore survives in two layers:

Historical rules for the plastic card (still useful if you misplace one that was printed before 2017); and

Current practice—getting a replacement certification so you can still prove your registration while the national PhilSys ID is being rolled‑out.

Below is a consolidated, practice‑oriented discussion of everything a Filipino voter, lawyer, or compliance officer needs to know—from constitutional foundations down to today’s in‑office routine.

1. Legal Foundations

Instrument	Salient Provision	Relevance
1987 Constitution, Art. V	Suffrage is a constitutional right; Congress may require a system of registration.	Basis for the Voter ID as proof of registration.
R.A. 8189 (Voters’ Registration Act of 1996)	§12 directs COMELEC to issue a Voter Identification Card after biometrics capture; §25 allows replacement of a lost or destroyed card.	Primary statutory basis.
COMELEC Resolutions – notably 8189‑implementation series (e.g., Res. 8604, 9853, 10358)	Lay down detailed form (CEF‑1R) and procedure for “Replacement of Lost/Damaged ID.”	Administrative rules.
R.A. 11055 (Philippine Identification System Act, 2018)	Creates a single national ID. COMELEC, by Resolution No. 10161 (Nov 2017), suspended further plastic‑ID printing and shifted to Voter Certification.	Transitions the replacement regime from “card” to “certification.”

Note: COMELEC may revive plastic cards once the PhilSys ID is universal, but as of April 21 2025 certifications remain the operative proof.

2. Who May Apply for a Replacement

Registered voter whose biometrics already exist in the COMELEC database.
Voter is not deactivated (i.e., did not fail to vote in two successive regular elections).
Voter’s registration is lodged in the Office of the Election Officer (OEO) where the request will be filed.
Card is lost, stolen, badly damaged – or, under the new system, the voter simply needs a fresh certification because the previous one was lost or has lapsed.

3. Documentary Requirements

Requirement	Applies to Card Era	Applies Today (Certification)	Practical Notes
CEF‑1R (Application for Replacement)	✔	🟡 (OEO now uses a shortened “Request for Certification” slip, but the CEF‑1R is still accepted)	Obtain at any OEO, downloadable in PDF.
Affidavit of Loss	✔	✔	Executed before the Election Officer (free) or any notary public (₱300–₱500). Must narrate date, place, and circumstances of loss.
One government‑issued ID (for identity matching)	✔	✔	PhilSys ID, passport, driver’s license, UMID, etc. If none, two secondary IDs.
Damaged card (if applicable)	✔	n/a	Present the fragments; you skip the affidavit.
Payment	Historical: usually free; some OEOs charged ₱100 for re‑print.	Certification fee: ₱75 (indigent voters may request a waiver under §2, Rule 141 ROC).	Pay at the OEO treasury‑style receipt.

4. Step‑by‑Step Procedure (2025)

Personal appearance at the OEO of your city/municipality/district.
Queue for the Replacement window. COMELEC uses a biometrics workstation even for certifications.
Submit requirements: completed CEF‑1R or request slip, affidavit, valid ID, payment receipt/waiver.
Biometric verification: fingerprint and live photo are matched with the database; a fresh capture is done if the earlier image is blurred.
Issuance of acknowledgement stub indicating release date.
Waiting period
- Certification – normally 15 minutes to 1 day (depends on queue; many OEOs now print on secure thermal paper with a QR code).
- Legacy plastic card – if the OEO still honors a reprint request, expect 3–6 months because printing is centralized in Intramuros and batched.
Release upon personal pick‑up or through an authorized representative armed with:
- Authorization letter
- Photocopies of both IDs
- Original acknowledgement stub.

5. Deadlines & Election Period Limits

Scenario	Is Filing Allowed?
Outside the “no‑registration” period (i.e., more than 45 days before a regular election and more than 30 days before a special election)	YES.
Within the bar period (inside 45/30‑day windows)	NO – OEOs freeze all registration‑related transactions, including replacements.
Election Day itself	NO – even certifications are stopped.

Because certifications print quickly, the practical cut‑off is really the statutory 45‑day freeze. Courts have repeatedly upheld COMELEC’s discretion here (e.g., Pangandaman v. COMELEC, G.R. 213421, 2015).

6. Validity and Uses of the Replacement Document

Use‑case	Plastic Card (issued ≤2017)	Certification (2025)
Voting at precinct	✔	✔ (must be presented with any photo ID if QR reader unavailable).
Government transactions (SSS, GSIS, DFA, banks)	✔	✔ – recognized under Memorandum Circulars of PSA and Anti‑Money Laundering Council.
Passport application	✔	✔ – DFA consular offices accept valid certification issued within the past 1 year.
Term of validity	Indefinite until older than the underlying biometrics rule (currently 15 years)	Usually 1 year from date of issue, printed on the face.

7. Costs, Waivers, and Indigency

Statutory fee – COMELEC historically did not charge for card replacement, but certifications attract a ₱75 documentary‑stamp‑like fee (COMELEC Finance Service Circular Series 2023‑003).
Indigency waiver – Show a Barangay Certificate of Indigency or current social protection card (4Ps, PhilHealth “Konsulta”) to have the fee waived.
Multiple losses – COMELEC may impose a minimal administrative fine (₱100–₱300) after a second loss in the same electoral cycle, citing nuisance prevention power under §52(c) of the Omnibus Election Code.

8. Special Situations

Overseas Filipino Voters (OFOV)
- File the request at any Philippine Embassy/Consulate or at the Overseas Voting Registration Center run by MECO/PCG.
- Processing time averages 4–6 weeks because certifications are still generated in the Philippines.
Senior Citizens & PWDs
- Priority lanes under Republic Act 10366 (Accessible Polling Places Act).
- The Election Officer may administer the Affidavit of Loss gratis et amore, obviating the need to visit a notary.
Persons whose records were delisted (failure to vote in two consecutive regular elections)
- Cannot replace the ID; must apply for reactivation first, then request a certification.
Court‑ordered Name Changes / Transfer of Registration
- A plastic card bearing the old details need not be surrendered until a new certification reflecting the change is ready.
- No extra fee for re‑issuance if the “loss” is effectively caused by the update.

9. Liability for False Statements

Making a false Affidavit of Loss constitutes perjury under Art. 183 of the Revised Penal Code and an election offense under §261(y)(2) of the Omnibus Election Code (penalty: 1–6 years, perpetual disqualification, loss of suffrage). In practice, COMELEC forwards clear cases to the provincial prosecutor.

10. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I still get a plastic Voter ID in 2025?
A: Only if your original card was printed before 2017 and your OEO has blank stock. Otherwise, COMELEC will issue a certification instead.

Q: Is the Voter Certification acceptable for bank “Know‑Your‑Customer” requirements?
A: Yes. Bangko Sentral’s Circular No. 1160 (2023) added “COMELEC Voter Certification with QR code” to the list of primary IDs, provided it is no more than one year old.

Q: Must I submit a police blotter for a stolen card?
A: Not required, but some Election Officers find it persuasive and may waive the affidavit fee if you attach it.

Q: How long before the May 2025 Barangay and SK Elections should I apply?
A: On or before March 19 2025 (45 days ahead), or your OEO cannot legally process the request.

Q: Will the new national PhilSys ID completely replace the voter certification?
A: Eventually, yes—COMELEC plans to phase out its separate credential once the PSA confirms 90 % PhilSys coverage, but no formal target year has been fixed.

11. Practical Checklist (One‑Pager)

Bring any valid photo ID.
Prepare a notarized or OEO‑administered Affidavit of Loss.
₱75 fee or indigency certificate.
Visit your OEO before the 45‑day election freeze.
Keep the acknowledgement stub safe until release.
Photocopy the certification the moment you receive it; it is thermal paper and may fade.

Conclusion

Replacing a lost Voter ID—or more precisely, obtaining a Voter Certification—is straightforward, constitutionally grounded, and usually completed in a single visit. The shift from plastic cards to QR‑coded certifications reflects the country’s migration to the PhilSys national ID, but the voter’s right to efficient proof of registration remains intact under R.A. 8189. Following the steps and deadlines above ensures uninterrupted access to voting precincts and government services.

(All information is current as of 21 April 2025 and reflects COMELEC issuances up to Resolution No. 11014.)