Comelec urges young voters: Follow your conscience, not others

MANILA, Philippines — As the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) are set to commence this year after it was pushed back last year, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday advised the first time or young voters to elect leaders based on their conscience and not on what other people will dictate them. 

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia made this statement during the voter education and signing of memorandum of agreement between the poll body and the Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) at BiPSU in Naval, Biliran. 

Garcia emphasized the importance of voter education, especially among the youth, as the voters will decide the fate of the country in the hands of the leaders they will elect. He also noted the youth’s role in the 2025 midterm elections, as the polls recorded the highest voter turnout in the history of midterm elections in the country. 

READ: Comelec: 1.3 million voters overvoted in 2025 polls

“We should not elect leaders based on what we see on social media, television, radio, and newspapers. We should use our heart and our conscience in voting, especially for the first time voters,” Garcia said in his speech delivered in Filipino.

“Our voting decision should not be dictated by anyone, even if they are our parents, classmates, or friends. It should be based on our research on who will be deserving to be elected,” Garcia added. 

Aside from this, Garcia also reminded those who will elect barangay officials that they should not vote for them based on their popularity or looks, as he underscored that they are the “first responders” to the needs of the constituents at the barangay level.

With this, he said that the voters should be informed enough to make wise decisions in voting as their choices will impact the present and future generations. 

“No one should be blamed for the country’s mess other than those citizens who do not choose the right leaders. We should always remember this,” he expressed. 

The voter registration for the upcoming BSKE runs from October 20, 2025, to May 18, 2026. Registration will be conducted from Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Comelec will accept new registrations, reactivations, and transfers of registration nationwide. Interested applicants may bring any of the following valid IDs:

• PhilSys National ID
• Postal ID
• Persons with Disabilities ID
• Student ID or library card
• Senior Citizen ID
• Driver’s license or student permit
• NBI clearance
• Philippine passport
• SSS, GSIS, PRC, IBP, or UMID ID
• NCIP certification
• Other valid government-issued IDs

The BSKE will be held on November 2, 2026, after it was postponed from its original schedule of December 1, 2025. /mr