BARMM polls postponed indefinitely as Comelec awaits new law

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has formally deferred the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for 30 March 2026, citing an unfeasible timeline and complex legal constraints.

In a statement released Wednesday, the Comelec en banc announced the promulgation of Minute Resolution No. 26-0071, which halts all preparations for the regional polls until a new date is fixed by law.

The commission determined that the conduct of the elections is no longer feasible because the required preliminary activities have fallen too close to the proposed election period.

Comelec highlighted significant legal hurdles, including the effectivity of Parliament Bill No. 415. According to the commission, certain provisions of the bill conflict with the Voter’s Registration Act of 1996, which prohibits the alteration of precincts once an election period has begun.

The decision also impacts the selection of sectoral leaders. Comelec stated that assemblies and conventions for the election of parliamentary sectoral representatives cannot proceed until a definitive election date is set by law.

This follows recent Supreme Court pronouncements regarding the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and the commission’s jurisdiction.

As a result of the resolution, the commission has terminated all activities previously outlined in the official calendars for the BARMM elections, which includes the cancellation of periods for prohibited acts and the suspension of all conventions intended for sectoral representative elections.

The postponement leaves the final date for the historic BARMM parliamentary polls in the hands of lawmakers, as the commission awaits new legislation to reset the electoral calendar.