Voter’s identification cards can only be claimed at the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the poll body said Friday.

The Comelec’s education and information department clarified that voter’s IDs would not be mailed to newly registered voters nor can they be claimed in barangay halls.

Comelec spokesperson and director James Jimenez said the voter’s IDs should be claimed at the local Comelec office where the voter applied for registration.

“You claim your Comelec IDs where you applied for them. We don’t release them to barangays. Many are saying that the IDs should be claimed in the barangay [hall]. That is not true,” Jimenez said in an interview.

Jimenez said voters could inquire from the local Comelec offices where they applied for registration if the Comelec IDs are already available.

“If you have applied for Comelec ID, let’s say two years ago, chances are it’s already there. If it’s not yet available, the election officer shall inform you why. Maybe there’s something lacking in your [biometric] data. You’ll be assisted on how to correct your entry so that you will be issued your IDs,” he explained.

Jimenez also underscored the importance of claiming one’s voter’s ID in person, adding, “You don’t need the ID in voting but it can be used for various purposes since it’s a government ID. It’s the same level as the driver’s license. It would be a waste if your ID would go to somebody else. Jerome Aning