Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Saturday that voters in the upcoming Bangsamoro Parliamentary Election will have more choices on their ballots, as they will cast multiple votes for sectoral representatives and select from among 13 regional political parties.

The poll chief explained that, unlike the national party-list system, where voters choose only one party, Bangsamoro voters will be allowed to vote for several sectoral representatives.

“For the sectoral organizations, one voter will have six votes,” Garcia said.

Voters will choose representatives from different sectors, including two representatives for settler communities, one for women, one for the youth, and one for tribal leaders, among others, as provided in the ballot structure.

Garcia said, “Unlike in our national party-list election where you only have one vote for one party, here you have six votes. This means you have more choices here in Bangsamoro.”

Aside from sectoral representatives, voters will also choose one regional political party that will compete for seats in the Bangsamoro Parliament.

The poll chief said 13 political parties are participating in the parliamentary race, and each voter will select only one party.

Garcia explained that a party must secure at least 2.5 percent of the total votes cast for regional political parties to qualify for parliamentary seats.

The expanded voting system reflects the structure of the Bangsamoro Parliament, which aims to provide representation for political parties and various sectors in the region.