More than 5.4 million voter applications are now set for screening after COMELEC ended its seven-month registration drive for the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, a turnout that reflected strong public participation while also revealing last-day pressure on local election offices.
COMELEC data showed that 5,470,889 applications were received nationwide from Oct. 20, 2025 to May 18, 2026. The figure was more than twice the poll body’s original target of two million new voters. The BSKE is scheduled on Nov. 2, 2026 after being postponed from its earlier Dec. 1, 2025 schedule.
Female applicants accounted for the larger share, with 2,831,459 applications compared to 2,639,430 from males. CALABARZON posted the highest number with 887,677 applications. Other regions with high totals included Region III with 613,185 and the National Capital Region with 598,427. RMN also reported around 322,000 applications from Region V, approximately 316,000 from Region VII and more than 75,000 from the Cordillera Administrative Region, the lowest figure cited.
COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia described the turnout as a major success, citing stronger information campaigns and improved access to registration services. However, he clarified that filing an application does not automatically make someone a registered voter.
“The city or municipal Election Registration Board will determine during its meeting whether the applications will be approved or disapproved,” Garcia said.
That review now becomes the next crucial step. COMELEC reminded applicants that their forms must still pass Election Registration Board screening before they can officially be considered registered voters. Under COMELEC Resolution 11224, the deadline for filing opposition to applications is May 25, while ERB hearings are scheduled for June 1.
The final day of registration also triggered complaints from applicants who lined up but were no longer accommodated. COMELEC spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said election officers implemented the “Last Day Scenario” under COMELEC Resolution No. 11177, which allowed offices to determine how many applicants they could still process.
