Bangsamoro Voter Registration Surpasses 55,000 in First Month for 2026 BSKE
One month after the commencement of the voter registration period, more than 55,000 residents of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have officially signed up to participate in the upcoming November 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). This significant turnout highlights a robust civic engagement in the region as the electoral process gains momentum.
Regional Breakdown of Voter Applicants
From February 9 to March 9, 2026, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) documented a total of 55,515 voter registrants across the Bangsamoro region. Leading the count is Lanao del Sur with an impressive 13,399 applicants, closely followed by Maguindanao del Norte with 12,520, and Basilan with 8,483.
Other areas within BARMM also show strong participation, including Maguindanao del Sur with 7,895 applicants, Tawi-Tawi with 6,988, and the Special Geographic Area with 6,230. The voter registration period in BARMM is scheduled to continue until March 31, 2026, with projections indicating that approximately 100,000 individuals are expected to apply for voter registration by the deadline.
Nationwide Voter Registration Trends
In contrast to the BARMM schedule, the voter registration period for the rest of the Philippines began earlier, on October 20, 2025, and will extend until May 18, 2026. Comelec has set an ambitious target to enroll up to four million new voters nationwide in preparation for the 2026 BSKE.
As of March 7, the commission has already received 2,875,807 applications for voter registration across all regions, bringing the total close to 2.9 million. This figure represents a substantial portion of the overall goal, demonstrating widespread interest in the upcoming local elections.
Top Performing Regions in Voter Registration
Calabarzon emerges as the frontrunner in voter registration numbers, with a remarkable 501,212 individuals applying to vote. Central Luzon follows with 333,038 applicants, and the National Capital Region records 298,962.
Other regions contributing significantly to the national tally include:
- Central Visayas: 172,801 applicants
- Bicol Region: 169,270 applicants
- Northern Mindanao: 143,080 applicants
- Negros Island Region: 142,080 applicants
- Davao Region: 132,489 applicants
These statistics underscore a nationwide push for voter participation, with regions across the Philippines actively engaging in the democratic process ahead of the 2026 barangay and youth council elections.
