Comelec sets new target of 1.5 million new voter registrants

Commission on Elections. Inquirer file photo.

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set a new goal of reaching 1.5 million new voter registrants by the end of the 10-day voters’ registration drive for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

This came after Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia shared on Wednesday that based on the poll body’s estimates, the voter registrations have already breached the one-million mark.

The Comelec has set the 10-day registration period from August 1 to August 10. Meanwhile, the Special Register Anywhere Program (SRAP) in several sites in Metro Manila will run from August 1 to August 7.

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

“Our target now is 1.5 million. If we reach 1.5 million, that will be extraordinary and historic. It is now historic, how much more if we reach 1.5 million in a matter of just 10 days,” Garcia told reporters on the sidelines of the SRAP at the main office of the Department of Interior and Local Government in Quezon City.

He earlier said that the poll body is eyeing to register one million new voters with hopes that the youth will make up half of it.

Garcia touted the good turnout of voter registrations despite his earlier announcement that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will sign the bill seeking to postpone the BSKE. He also shared on Wednesday that the bill may lapse into law on August 14.

“This is the most number in a short period of time in the history of the Comelec, and elections in our country. We are wondering why but we are happy because we reached over one million in just five days,” Garcia said.

READ: How to register as a voter for the 2025 BSKE

He also said that while the poll body will not extend the registration period, the poll body will resume it in October 2025 until July 2026 if the BSKE will be postponed.

‘Youth’s power’

When asked about the factor behind the turnout, Garcia attributed it to the youth and their willingness to participate in the elections.

“I think they see that this is now the wave of youth voters, the youth’s power shown in the 2025 national and local elections,” Garcia noted.

“Like what we said, they are not just there as a texting generation. They want to have a voice, they want to participate. They want to continue this,” he added.

He then shared that during his visit to several SRAP sites, he observed many young voter registrants were accompanied by their parents, guardians, or even their grandparents.

As the voters’ registration period is coming to an end, the Comelec is accepting the following applications:

• Registration
• Change of name and status
• Correction of entries
• Reactivation of registration records
• Inclusion of registration records and reinstatement of name in the list of voters
• Updating of records of Persons With Disabilities (PWD), senior citizens, and members of the indigenous peoples (IPs) and indigenous cultural communities (ICCs)
• Transfer from overseas to local only

Meanwhile, transfer of local registration records is not allowed during this registration period.

Comelec also said that anyone can bring at least one of the following government-issued IDs:

• National ID
• Postal ID
• PWD ID
• Student’s ID card of library card (with signature of school authority)
• Senior Citizen ID
• Driver’s license or student permit
• National Bureau of Investigation clearance
• Philippine passport
• Social Security System/Government Service Insurance System or Unified Multi-Purpose ID
• Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID
• Professional Regulatory Commission License
• Certificate of Confirmation from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples for members of ICCs and IPs
• Other government-issued valid IDs

Meanwhile, the Comelec noted that barangay certification or identification, community tax certificates (Cedula), Philippine National Police Clearance and company ID will not be accepted.  /mr