MANILA — The Commission on Elections on Wednesday warned the public against multiple voter registrations as the poll body prepares for the 2025 midterm elections.

In a televised briefing, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco reiterated an earlier warning made by Comelec chief George Garcia saying that registering more than once is considered an election offense and is punishable by law.

Comelec restarts voter registration, register anywhere projects

“Ang pagre-rehistro po ng dalawa o higit pang beses para ang maging purpose po ay maging flying voter ay pinaparusahan ng batas bilang election offense, may pagkakakulong po ito ng isa hanggang 6 na taon, pagkakatanggal ng karapatang bumoto at pagpataw po ng perpetual disqualification to hold public office, ” Laudiangco said.

He said that the Comelec will be able to detect multiple registrations through its Automated Fingerprint Identification System.

“Kapag nakita po namin iyan at sinadya po ninyo, under oath po ang ating registration form. Kayo po ay kakasuhan namin ng election offense, sa pagiging double at multiple registrant,” the official continued.

Laudiangco said the Comelec is set to file complaints against at least 100,000 voters after it found around 500,000 double and multiple registrants in its system last year.

He said the Comelec was able to register as many as 90,000 voters on the first day of the resumption of their voter registration Monday, excluding those who were part of the “Register Anywhere Program” that the poll body is trying out for wider implementation.

He said turnout for voter registration has been good.

 “In fact nga po, kahit doon sa Kalayaan, sa Pag-asa Island po na pinuntahan po namin ni Chairman Garcia ay mahigit kumulang 50 na kababayan natin na mga mangingisda ang huminto pansamantala para lamang po makasali po at makapag-rehistro.”

Comelec conducts voter registration on Pag-asa Island

Around 500 also went to the Comelec’s main office in Intramuros, which began accepting voter registrations this year, he said.