Comelec logs 241,422 NIR voter applicants

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The Commission on Elections-Negros Island Region recorded 241,422 voter registration applications across the region from Oct. 20, 2025, to May 18, 2026, for this year’s Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in November.

Negros Occidental recorded the highest number of applicants with 164,375, followed by Negros Oriental with 72,081 and Siquijor with 4,966.

The figures consisted of 115,242 male applicants and 126,180 female applicants.

During the last day of registration on Monday, long queues were observed in various venues, with a registration turnout of 12,385, including 5,961 male applicants and 6,424 female applicants.

Around 7,545 registered in Negros Occidental, including 1,236 in Bacolod City, 4,391 in Negros Oriental, and 449 in Siquijor.

Meanwhile, the Register Anywhere Program in the region logged 1,186 applicants, including 528 male applicants and 658 female applicants.

These included 338 applicants in Bacolod City and 848 in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12232 into law in August 2025, postponing the December 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections to the first Monday of November 2026.

Deputy Speaker and Bacolod City Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez recently called for a six-month postponement of the BSKE set for Nov. 2, 2026, citing the crisis caused by tensions in the Middle East.

However, the Comelec said it will continue preparing for this year’s BSKE amid discussions on its possible postponement.

Earlier, the Palace said the president is open to proposals for another postponement if it would benefit the country, especially if it could save the government around PHP 16 billion.

Comelec data as of May 16 showed that the poll body had processed about 5.2 million applications over seven months, which it described as the highest recorded in any registration cycle in its history.

Another voter registration period will be held next year ahead of the May 2028 national and local elections, in line with Republic Act No. 8189, or the Voter’s Registration Act of 1996.