By Justine Xyrah Garcia, August 11, 2025; BusinessMirror

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/08/11/over-2-m-new-voters-enlist-despite-possible-bske-reset/

MORE than 2.13 million Filipinos registered for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) during the 10-day sign-up period this month, despite Malacañang’s earlier announcement that the polls will likely be moved to next year.

In a text message to reporters on Sunday, Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia called the turnout the “most successful” and “most historic” in recent years.

“This only proves that we want every voice to be heard, regardless of our status in life,” Garcia said in Filipino.

While the poll body has yet to release the full demographic breakdown, Garcia credited much of the surge to young registrants.

“The Filipino youth truly stand firm in carrying the future of the nation. Responding to the call and challenge is an act of heroism. Long live all of you!” he said.

Region IV-A posted the highest number of new voters at 265,957, followed by Region III with 220,650 and Region VI with 169,378.

Meanwhile, the Cordillera Administrative Region logged the lowest with 39,484, followed by Caraga with 66,118 and Region IV-B with 67,350.

The Comelec earlier said it had no objection to the measure extending the term of barangay and SK officials and resetting the elections to November 2026.

Garcia said the postponement would also give the commission more time to prepare for the first-ever Bangsamoro parliamentary elections in October.

If the reset is signed into law, the Comelec plans to reopen voter registration from late October until July next year.

“We can start from October until July next year. We will no longer extend the August 1 to 10 registration,” Garcia said, adding that the commission will also monitor if the law will be challenged before the Supreme Court on constitutional grounds.