Bangsamoro Voter Registration Surges Past Projections as National Deadline Nears
As the voter registration period enters its final week in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is witnessing a remarkable surge in applications that could far exceed initial expectations. Comelec Chairman George Garcia revealed in a Monday interview that the region might reach an impressive 150,000 registrants by the March 31 deadline, a substantial increase from their original projection of 100,000.
Regional Breakdown Shows Strong Participation
From February 9 to March 23, Comelec data indicates that BARMM has already processed 94,120 voter registrants, demonstrating robust civic engagement across the region. Lanao del Sur leads with the highest number of applicants at 25,329, followed closely by Maguindanao del Norte with 20,579 and Maguindanao del Sur with 15,396. Other areas showing significant participation include Basilan with 13,047 applicants, Tawi-Tawi with 10,461, and the Special Geographic Area with 9,308.
The voter registration period in BARMM is notably shorter than the national schedule, running only from February 9 to March 31, 2026, which makes this surge particularly noteworthy.
Nationwide Registration Approaches Four Million Target
Meanwhile, across the rest of the country, voter registration continues at a steady pace with the national period having begun on October 20, 2025 and extending until May 18, 2026. Comelec officials are aiming to register as many as four million new voters in preparation for the November 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
With less than two months remaining before the national deadline, current figures show that more than 3.3 million applicants have already submitted their registration forms. Comelec's comprehensive data reveals a total of 3,356,106 applications processed from October 20 to March 21, indicating strong nationwide participation in the democratic process.
Regional Leaders in Voter Registration
Calabarzon emerges as the region with the highest number of applicants, boasting an impressive 561,829 individuals seeking to register as voters. Other regions demonstrating substantial participation include:
- Central Luzon with 388,393 registrants
- National Capital Region with 344,214 applicants
- Bicol Region with 204,036 submissions
- Central Visayas with 202,954 registrations
Additionally, the innovative Register Anywhere/Anytime Program has facilitated 7,228 applications, providing greater accessibility for citizens across various locations.
This widespread engagement reflects growing public interest in the upcoming local elections and suggests potentially higher voter turnout for the 2026 barangay elections. Comelec continues to monitor registration trends closely as both regional and national deadlines approach, with Chairman Garcia expressing optimism about meeting their ambitious registration targets.
