5.3M newly registered voters for 2026 BSKE — Comelec

There are 5.3 million newly registered voters for the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported on Wednesday.

“[Noong] May 18, 387,000 ang mga bagong botante na pumunta sa publiko. At umabot tayo sa 5.3 million na pumunta sa Comelec para lang i-avail ang registration process natin,” Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay.

(Last May 18, 387,000 new voters went to public registration sites, bringing the total to 5.3 million who went to Comelec offices to avail of the registration process.)

Comelec plans to release the list of deactivated voters, including those with multiple registrations.

The poll body had said there would be no Special Register Anywhere Program (SRAP) and Register Anywhere Program (RAP) after the May 18 deadline.

After the submission of the application, it will be reviewed by the Election Registration Board for approval or disapproval. For this year, the hearings are scheduled on April 20, 2026 and June 1, 2026.

The public may inquire with Comelec about their application two to three weeks after the ERB hearing.

P3M more needed if BSKE polls are moved

Garcia has said the poll body is prepared for the 2026 BSKE, but should there be a need for a reset, they will need additional budget.

“Kapag nag reset tayo ng barangay and SK election, manghihingi kami ng dagdag na P3 million,” Garcia said.

(If we reset the Barangay and SK elections, we will request an additional P3 million. Whenever we reset the Barangay and SK elections, there is always an additional budget requirement.)

“Kapag nag reset tayo ng barangay at SK laging may dagdag sapagkat sa ibang araw o panahon, mag-o-open kami ulit ng registration of voters,” he added.

(If we reset the Barangay and SK elections, there will always be additional costs because at another time or period, we will have to reopen voter registration.)

The Comelec has said that it is 90% to 95% ready for 2026 BSKE, which is scheduled on November 2, 2026. The campaign period will be from October 22 to 30.

“Kami sa Comelec, 90% to 95% na kaming handa para sa BSKE,” Comelec Chairperson George Garcia told Super Radyo dzBB. “Naimprenta na ang mga balota at kaunting gamit na lang ang hinihintay na ma-procure.”

(The Comelec is 90% to 95% ready for the BSKE. The ballot has been printed, and we have a few pieces of equipment waiting to be procured.) —RF, GMA News