Comelec presses on with BSKE prep despite postponement

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday, 2 August, said it would continue preparations for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) despite its postponement.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is set to sign into law on 12 August a bill seeking to postpone the 2025 BSKE, which was originally scheduled for 1 December.

"We will continue with our preparations. Our voter registration is ongoing. We plan to finish it even with these news," Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said in a radio interview.

"We need to continue preparing, especially with registration, because there may be events or changes," Garcia added.

The Comelec chief explained that if they stop preparations and a temporary restraining order is issued, allowing the elections to proceed in December, "no one will be able to vote."

Garcia also said they will continue the procurement of 60,000 ballot boxes and other election materials.

He assured that the BSKE postponement will not affect the first-ever Bangsamoro parliamentary polls.

"On the part of the Comelec, we have no discretion in postponing. Whether there is a Bangsamoro election, we will comply. We will conduct the Bangsamoro parliamentary election, whether there is a BSKE or not," he added.

The poll body on Friday, 1 August, launched the 10-day nationwide voter registration for the 2025 BSKE.

According to Garcia, applicants may register from Monday to Sunday, 8 AM to 5 PM, at any satellite registration site or their respective Comelec office of the election officer.

In Metro Manila, registrants may apply at any participating Register Anywhere Program sites.

Garcia said the Comelec is targeting to register one million voters during the registration period.