Youth Voters Drive Registration Surge for 2026 Barangay, SK Polls

• Young voters in Eastern Visayas are driving a surge in registration for the 2026 barangay and SK elections, with over 47,600 new applicants recorded as of March 7.

Jazmin Bonifacio 3 months ago 2.7 K

Posted on Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:58 pm

TACLOBAN CITY — Young voters in Eastern Visayas are leading a surge in voter registration ahead of the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Region 8 reported over 47,611 new voter registration applications from the youth as of last Saturday, March 7, 2026, indicating a growing interest in political participation.

Comelec Regional Director, Attorney Nick Mendros highlighted in an interview on March 12, the active engagement of young voters and the efforts to make registration more accessible through satellite sites in barangays.

The “Register Anywhere” initiative enables students and workers residing away from their hometowns to register without needing to return. Strict verification procedures are in place to ensure the accuracy of voter lists.

Mendros emphasized the importance of truthful information in registration forms to avoid election offenses. The commission is proposing a ban on barangay certifications as proof of identity to maintain the independence of the registration process.

Voter registration for the 2026 elections began on October 12 and will continue until May 18, 2026.

Mendros called on media organizations to help disseminate information about registration guidelines to the public. The upcoming elections are expected to engage a significant number of first-time voters, particularly from the youth sector.

(Photo by: Jazmin Bonifacio)