Comelec to resume voter registration in October after BSKE polls postponed

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday said it will resume voter registration in October following the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election (BSKE).

“Kung sakali po talaga na hindi na matutuloy ang election sa December 1, kami po ay magre-resume sa October na ito ng taon ng 2025 hanggang next year ng July ng atin pong registration,” Comelec chairperson George Garcia told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

(If the elections cannot proceed on December 1, we will resume our registration from October this year, 2025, until next year in July.)

Comelec on August 1 launched a ten-day voter registration for 2025 BSKE, in which 2.8 million people have registered. 

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday signed into law the measure seeking to postpone the BSKE from December 2025 to November 2026.

According to Garcia, the movement of the BSKE schedule is in light of the newly set fixed term of four years for barangay and SK officials.

The Comelec official noted that the adjustment on BSKE will be effective after 15 days of publication in newspapers or the Official Gazette but can be challenged before the Supreme Court.

“Alam po natin na kahit ito ay nalagdaan na ng ating Pangulo, ang batas po ay magiging epektibo lamang kapag ito ay na-publish sa newspapers of general circulation o Official Gazette,” he said.

(We know that even though it has been signed by our President, the law will only become effective when it is published in newspapers of general circulation or the Official Gazette.)

“At pagkatapos, wala pong makakapigil sa sino man na gustong pumunta sa Korte Suprema upang kuwestiyonin ang legalidad nito,” he added.

(And then, nothing can stop anyone who wants to go to the Supreme Court to question its legality.) —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News