The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will resume voter registration in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) this February in preparation for the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).
COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the decision followed the suspension of the first-ever Bangsamoro parliamentary elections, originally set for March 30, 2026.
With the polls no longer pushing through, the poll body moved to lift the suspension of voter registration in the region.
Registration in BARMM will begin this month and will run until March 30.
COMELEC had earlier resumed voter registration nationwide on October 20, 2025, until May 18, 2026, but BARMM was excluded due to the planned parliamentary elections.
“Kami ay magkakaroon muli ng voters’ registration sa buong Bangsamoro ngayong February at tatagal ito hanggang March 30 para may makaboto sa November 2,” Garcia announced.
He explained that registration was previously suspended to avoid legal and procedural complications tied to the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.
“Hindi natuloy ang March 30 kaya kailangan naming i-lift ang suspension,” Garcia said.
The move is expected to allow more eligible voters in BARMM to participate in the BSKE scheduled for November 2, 2026.