Comelec receives over 2.7 million registrations in 10 days for BSKE

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia. Inquirer file photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has regarded the 10-day voters’ registration drive for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) as the “most successful in the history of Comelec” as it received over 2.7 million registrations during a short period of time.

The Comelec exceeded its target as it earlier aimed to reach 1.5 million new registrations during the voters’ registration process that ran from August 1 to August 10.

According to the figures provided by Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia to the media on Monday, the initial report showed that the poll body received 2,727,643 registrations.

Of this figure, Calabarzon logged the most number of registrants with 324,017, followed by Negros Island Region with 234,032 and Central Luzon with 220,650. The Special Register Anywhere Program, which was launched from August 1 to August 7, garnered 10,549 applications.

READ: Comelec tallies 2.13M new voters at end of latest listup

“We just can’t figure out the reason why many Filipinos registered, especially the youth,” Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia told reporters in an interview.

Garcia also attributed the high turnout of registrations to the youth sector which he said comprised 65-67% of the figure. He also recognized the long lines and heat the registrants braved in many registration sites nationwide.

‘Generally peaceful’

When asked to assess the 10-day voters’ registration drive, Garcia said that it was “generally peaceful.”

READ: Comelec to ask for more funds if BSKE gets postponed

“This is a symbol that in the upcoming elections, barangay or SK or national elections of 2028, expect more Filipinos in the polling precinct.,” Garcia added.

Meanwhile, Garcia acknowledged reports of an “untoward incident” in Bacolod where voter registrants who lined up in a mall fainted. He said that the poll body will find out what they can do with such situation in future registrations.

Garcia also said that as they prepare for the next registration period, the poll body will make the process more encouraging, especially for the Filipinos abroad.

He shared that if the BSKE will be postponed, the next voters’ registration period will run from October 2025 to July 2026. President Ferdinand Marcos earlier said that he will sign the bill seeking to extend the current three-year term of BSK officials to four years.

Should the bill be enacted into law, the elections will be reset from December 1, 2025 to the first Monday of 2026.  /mr