Comelec: BARMM voter registration to resume Feb. 9–Mar. 30

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said voter registration for residents of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will resume from February 9 to March 30, ahead of the Barangay, Sangguniang Kabataan, and BARMM parliamentary elections.

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia announced the resumption on Friday, noting it follows the postponement of the parliamentary elections.

“We will resume voter registration across the Bangsamoro, which was previously suspended, starting this coming February 9. Our fellow Bangsamoro residents can register again,” Garcia said in Filipino in an interview after signing a memorandum of agreement with the National Printing Office.

READ: Comelec postpones March 30 Bangsamoro parliamentary elections

Last week, Garcia announced that the BARMM parliamentary elections would be postponed from their scheduled date of March 30, citing the absence of a redistricting law for the Bangsamoro Parliament and insufficient time to prepare for the elections.

He also said BARMM residents can register through the Register Anywhere Program in any highly urbanized city or capital town nationwide, adding that they do not need to return to their home provinces to register.

Garcia explained that the voter registration period for BARMM residents is shorter than in the rest of the country, as the poll body expects the parliamentary elections to be held earlier than the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

“Therefore, our fellow Bangsamoro residents need to prepare the voter lists. If registration ends on March 30, the lists should be ready by May, as Comelec will print the lists for posting outside and inside precincts and send them to the local Comelec offices,” he added.

READ: Comelec to resume voters’ registration starting October 20

The poll body has set the voter registration drive nationwide from October 20, 2025, to May 18, 2026.

Garcia said registration for BARMM residents was previously suspended during this period to avoid confusion, as residents might have thought it allowed them to vote in the parliamentary elections.

Possible BARMM polls in September

Garcia also said that, based on recent congressional hearings on the BARMM parliamentary elections, there is a consensus to hold the elections in September this year.

“Then, BSKE voters will ask: Will we also vote in the Bangsamoro elections? As far as Comelec is concerned: yes, they will vote, but we will wait for the law itself to determine the specific provisions,” he said in Filipino.

The Comelec chief also said this is to prevent disenfranchisement among BARMM voters, emphasizing that it would be unfair if they could vote in the BSKE but not in the BARMM elections, which may be held earlier. /mcm