Comelec aims for 1 million new voter registrations in 10-day drive

Commission on Elections. Inquirer file photo.

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is targeting 1 million new voter registrations during its 10-day sign-up drive from August 1 to 10.

This comes despite Malacañang’s earlier confirmation to the poll body that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will sign into law the postponement of the 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

“Our hope is to register at least 1 million voters in the 10 days. We also hope half of those are the youth,” Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said in an interview with reporters in Pasay City on Saturday.

“We have to have people register, especially the youth who are 15 to 17 years old. If we don’t have registrations even for just 10 days, we might not have people ages 15 to 17, we might not have anyone who can vote for Sangguniang Kabataan,” he explained.

READ: Comelec sets voters’ registration period from August 1-10

The 2025 BSKE is set for December 1.

However, Garcia previously told reporters that Malacañang will sign the bill moving the BSKE to the first Monday of November 2026 and every four years thereafter.

“In the event that the barangay and SK elections don’t push through, there’s no problem. All who register in these 10 days will still have their registrations,” Garcia said.)

Garcia also noted that the poll body set up sites at select hospitals, malls, call centers, transport terminals and other strategic areas to boost registrations.

READ: Marcos to sign law postponing barangay, SK polls — Comelec

The initiative also includes an option to register anytime and anywhere, he stressed.

“Even if you’re not really from Pasay but you’ll be voting in a province, you should just register here,” the poll body chief explained.

“We’ll be the ones to send the registration to the province where you’ll really be voting. It’s a one-stop shop. At the same time, you won’t have to be hassled to go to your hometown.,” he added. /mr