• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
The Commission on Elections is set to resume its voters’ registration operation on Monday, October 20, which will run until May 18 next year, to cater to more registrants as part of preparations for the postponed Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSK) Elections on November 2, 2026.
The resumption was disclosed by Negros Occidental Provincial Election Director Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria after they received a resolution from the national office that the registration will continue amidst the uncertainty of the BSKE schedule.
Ananoria said that the upcoming registration period will cater to all first-time registrants, from the SK federation to regular applicants. Unlike last registration protocols, the upcoming one will also cater to the transfer of records, corrections, reactivations, and other concerns.
COMELEC Negros Occidental had also tapped local authorities to conduct additional satellite offices intended to fast-track and improve the efficiency during the registration period.
Starting on Monday, the commission is open every Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
“The election officers in each locality had already given schedules for the registration, and some will put up satellite offices for the applicant’s convenience,” he said.
Upon registration, the commission will no longer accept barangay certification or company ID as proof of residence; only government-issued ID will be accepted. If not available, new voters can bring one registered voter to identify them as a resident, Comelec said.
Furthermore, Ananoria said that they are still waiting and preparing for the possibility of an election this year, since the Supreme Court can still release an order that will alter the BSKE postponement.
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.*
