The Commission on Elections (Comelec) may temporarily suspend voter registration for the 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) this July. The move comes as lawmakers push for a bill extending the term of barangay and SK officials from three to four years, effectively rescheduling the elections to November 2026.
Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia emphasized that the decision is political in nature, one the Commission cannot interfere with. “We respect the legislative process and will comply with whatever is finalized,” Garcia told reporters.
The Senate recently ratified the bicameral committee report endorsing the term extension and election postponement. The measure now awaits President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval or veto.
Garcia noted that Comelec will hold an emergency meeting next week to reassess its election plans, including logistics and the potential voter registration suspension. If pushed through, voter registration may resume after the Bangsamoro elections, possibly from October this year through August 2026.
Comelec anticipates that with an extended registration period, the number of registered voters could surpass 70 million. The agency also plans to propose a larger 2026 election budget, including the reinstatement of the P2,000 honorarium for electoral board members and additional funding for more precincts, teachers, and election materials.
As of now, the BSKE is scheduled for December 1, 2025.