• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
Despite the signed bill postponing the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSK) Elections, the Commission on Elections is still preparing for the finalization and clustering of the voters list.
According to the information disclosed yesterday by Negros Occidental Provincial Election Director Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria, there will be a new clustering of voters to organize and accompany the newly registered voters.
“We are focusing on the finalization of the voters list and the clustering because it is an important stage to determine how many electoral boards will run the election,” he said.
Based on Negros Island Region Election Director, Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano, the new clustering is essential since each precinct will only cater to 400 registered voters, unlike the recent midterm elections where each precinct catered to 1,000 voters.
The Comelec will arrive in Negros Oriental next week to oversee the clustering of new precincts, as changes are needed for the BSK elections, and to determine the number of ballot boxes and election paraphernalia needed.
Hundreds of thousands of individuals, mostly young people, applied for the registration of new voters held from August 1 to 10.
The commission will continue preparations in case the elections will be pursued on December 1, 2025, but will also follow the signed bill if the postponement to November 2, 2026 is finalized.
On August 13, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the bill postponing the election until next year and fixing the term of BSK to four years. However, the law faces petitions from the oppositors who consider the postponement illegal and unconstitutional.
The commission is still awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court on the legality of the signed bill.*
