Written by: Maine Dela Cruz
The Philippines’ election day on May 9, 2022, is just around the corner. By now you may find yourself asking, “how to know my precinct number?” There’s an easy solution for that. The Commission of Elections (COMELEC) has come up with an online tool that lets registered voters search for their precinct number. You don’t need to go to your local COMELEC office or rummage through the bulletin board on your polling precinct on the day of the elections. All you need is a mobile device or a PC, and access to high-speed internet from your trusted internet provider in the Philippines.
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All About COMELEC Online Precinct Finder
Generally, the precinct finder caters to registered voters who do not know where exactly to go to cast their ballots for the 2022 elections. Here are other important details about this online facility:
1. Launching
Filipinos can now access the COMELEC online Precinct Finder. Its launch date was last April 22. Since 2016, it is also the first time use of the feature.
2. URL
Visit the precinct finder’s URL here. The voter database used for this online facility is up-to-date as of the last voter registration period in October 2021.
3. Agencies involved
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) made public its online precinct finder on Friday, April 22, with the help of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
The precinct finder is under the DICT’s GovCloud infrastructure, which, according to the agency’s website, “allows for easy upscaling or downscaling of ICT resources as and when required, to accommodate increased or changing demand or capacity.”
4. Security and technical issues
Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said on April 21, that the DICT was still fixing its Cloudflare to ensure that the precinct finder will not be prone to hacking.
After news of its launch spread online, Filipino voters tried the feature out. But while some discovered that it worked efficiently, others had a hard time even accessing the website. Some voters, including first-time voters and active voters, found that they get a “No Record Found” once they input their details. Others even found that they were mistakenly listed as “Deactivated” voters.
Thousands of Filipinos are flocking to COMELEC’s website to look up their precinct info so the server might’ve been overloaded. Commissioner George Erwin Garcia said that they are continuously working on fixing the website’s “error” or “under maintenance” issues.
Before you get disappointed that your name still shows “deactivated” or “No Record Found” even after you tried variations of your name, try to recall if you voted during the last two elections. That’s during the 2018 barangay elections and the 2019 local elections. If you didn’t and haven’t renewed your status, that might mean your registration is deactivated and unfortunately, you can’t vote on May 9.
Steps on How to Know Precinct Number
Knowing your precinct number is very simple. This mini-tutorial will teach you how to use the COMELEC Precinct Finder to know your precinct number and other voting information.
Step 1: Open the COMELEC Precinct Finder URL
On your web or mobile browser, visit the COMELEC Precinct Finder website.
Read the disclaimer popup and click “Continue.”
Step 2: Choose your location
Then, select your location:
- Local (Philippines) – Choose this if you are a registered voter in the Philippines.
- Overseas – Choose this if you are a registered voter abroad.
Step 3: Provide your voter information
A digital form will appear, where you should enter your voter information. Here are the items you need to fill out:
- First Name – If your name has a suffix, include it after the first name. Example: JUAN JR.
- Middle Name – If you don’t have a middle name, type underscore “_” or dot “.”
- Last Name
- Place of Registration
- Province – Choose the province where you registered as a voter.
- City/Municipality – Choose the city or municipality where you registered as a voter.
After providing your voter information, click the Captcha box to check it (you may be asked to confirm that you are “not a robot”). Finally, click “Search.”
Note that a confirmation popup will appear with this message: “Are you sure you want to proceed with the information you have entered?”
Just click “Proceed” to continue.
Step 4: View your voting precinct information
If your provided information is correct, you can now see your polling information including the polling place and the precinct number. You will also see your voter status.
Key Takeaway
The COMELEC Precinct Finder is an extremely handy tool that lets you find your polling precinct, so eliminating any discomfort and delays during election day. The tool is not without its share of technological challenges, but with a little patience, you will be able to discover your precinct without having to waste time hunting up your name on the list of voters. In any event, you should absolutely verify your voter registration status online. We are barely days away from the elections and you wouldn’t want to experience complications on May 9.
Be Informed with the Latest Election-Related Updates Online
In this day and age, you almost have zero excuses for becoming a responsible voter. Making informed decisions is crucial in shaping the future of our nation. Making sure you have an “Active” voter status is one thing. However, reading about the national and local candidates’ backgrounds and platforms will guide you in coming up with better choices. Similarly, learning how to know your precinct number online will save you the hassle of manually doing so on election day. Good thing, your research is now easier with access to high-speed internet. The best browsing experience is now a breeze due to affordable home fiber internet.
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