Comelec Internet Services

CIS Internet: The Internet is a new concept introduced by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Philippines to give free Internet connection in some selected areas of the country. The program was initiated in 2021 as part of a bid to enhance voter turnout, especially from the young and those who have never voted before. The CIS Internet service installs free Wi-Fi zones in open areas such as plazas, parks, and universities through LTE and satellite connections. It means that if you stand within the reach of the hotspots, you can simply browse the internet without incurring any cost. The service is available for a few months before and within the national election period of one’s country. CIS Internet is a service that Comelec envisions to give voters the ability to access informative websites and pages and eventually use the internet for voter registration verification of their precincts and polling stations, list of candidates, campaign materials and debates, fact-checking, reporting incidents, etc. This is supposed to supplement the various voter education programs that Comelec has been conducting offline across the archipelago. In its quest to make the electoral process more inclusive and meaningful, Comelec sees CIS Internet not only as a source of free internet connection but as the tool that will introduce more people, more Filipinos to the electoral process not as mere recipients of information but as active voters.