Comelec: Registration transfers not included in August enlistment
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Garcia said on Friday the resumption of the voters’ registration from Aug. 1 to Aug. 10 is solely for first-time voters and those who have been deactivated, to enable them to participate in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) slated this year.
“With such a short time … their applications might not reach the Election Registration Board (ERB) hearings and even if they applied, their applications might not be approved,” he said as he noted that those who want to transfer their registration are not included in the August enlistment.
ERB hearings are conducted to approve or disapprove applications for voter registration, and delist voters by reason of death, failure to vote in two succeeding regular elections, and other grounds provided by law.
Confusing schedules
The voters’ registration was originally set from July 1 to July 11, but was postponed to the last week of October until July 2026. Garcia earlier explained that the poll body will need a longer period of registration if the BSKE is reset.
Garcia said that the postponement was due to their assumption that the elections would not push through on Dec. 1, as Congress had ratified a bill that sets four-year terms for elected barangay officials, replacing the current three-year terms.
At the same time, Garcia noted that they were sticking to their earlier expectation that there will be about one million new voters to be registered.
“We estimated one million in 11 days, we are still sticking to that. Registration will be done throughout the Philippines,” he said.
“We hope that those who have not voted will be interested in registering or reactivating. This is their opportunity to register and vote,” the Comelec chief added.
The BSKE is set to be held on Dec. 1.
