MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is expecting a significant influx of applicants as it prepares to reopen nationwide voter registration by mid-November for an extended eight-month window.
COMELEC Chairperson Atty. George Erwin Garcia shared during a Saturday interview that the poll body projects high participation from citizens looking to register for the first time, transfer records, or reactivate their voting status.
“Consequently, we can expect that those who register, transfer, or reactivate their status will be able to participate in the 2028 national and local elections, as well as the Barangay and SK elections (BSKE). We anticipate a high volume of registrants given the extended timeframe,” Garcia said.
Registration will run from mid-November through the end of July 2027.
Garcia explained that concluding the period in July gives election authorities sufficient time to finalize precinct projects, review voter lists, and conduct necessary Election Registration Board (ERB) hearings.
“We want to ensure the voter list, the project of precincts, and ERB (Election Registration Board) hearings are properly prepared, making this the ideal period for the COMELEC to conduct the process,” Garcia said.
The timeline adjustment comes after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 12326, which extended the terms of incumbent barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials to five years and rescheduled the local village elections to November 2028.