The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has assured the public that the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections 2026 will proceed as scheduled on November 2, 2026, despite speculation about a possible postponement.
COMELEC Regional Reddy Balarbar said the poll body has repeatedly stated that the elections are already firmly set and that there is no longer enough reason to defer them.
Balarbar explained that postponing the elections at this stage would require additional funding because COMELEC would need to reopen voter registration, establish more polling precincts, and assign additional teachers to serve as election personnel.
He also noted that the agency has already begun printing ballots, indicating that preparations for the upcoming BSKE are well underway.
Meanwhile, Balarbar said there are no plans to extend voter registration beyond May 18, 2026. He pointed out that the registration period has been open for several months, and that more than 200,000 new voters have already registered in Region I alone.
According to Balarbar, the number of newly registered voters nationwide has already exceeded the target, reaching an estimated four million.
He also welcomed the strong participation of young voters, particularly those registering to take part in the Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
At the same time, Balarbar encouraged individuals planning to run in the BSKE to begin preparing essential documents, such as their birth certificates, in anticipation of the filing of certificates of candidacy.
AHIKAM PASION
VOTERS RUSH TO REGISTER—Voters from various barangays in Dagupan City gather at a satellite registration site located at Nepo Mall on Arellano Street on the final day of registration, May 18. They were seeking the opportunity to participate in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections scheduled for November 2, 2026. – PUNCHphoto by Ray Zambrano