Voter Registration Authority Confirms Inclusion of 18-year-old Sangguniang Kabataan Members in Barangay Lists
Comelec Clarifies Voter Registration Rules for Upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Philippines has resumed voter registration activities nationwide on August 1, in preparation for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled for 2025.
In a recent announcement, the Comelec clarified that during the registration period, local registration record transfers (i.e., moving voter registration to a different local site) will not be allowed. This means that SK voters who become regular voters will retain their existing local voter registration unless they file a new registration personally at their place of residence or qualify for other types of applications such as new registration, change of name and status, correction of entries, reactivation of registration records, inclusion of records, reinstatement of names, and transfer from overseas to local registration only.
The Comelec Chairman, George Garcia, stated that youth voters who are now eligible to vote in the barangay elections do not need to re-register. He also mentioned that the records will be automatically imported from SK to regular voters. Regular voters eligible for barangay elections must be at least 18 years old.
SK voters are individuals aged 15 to 30 on or before the December 1 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). The transition from SK voter status to regular voter status is primarily managed by allowing voters to maintain their existing registrations or to apply as new voters when they reach the required age, but not by administrative transfers between local voter registries during the registration period.
On the first day of the resumed registration, applicants crowded Offices of the Election Officer, satellite registration sites, and Special Register Anywhere/Anytime Program (SRAP) sites. The Comelec's efforts to ensure the integrity of the voters' list ahead of the elections were reported by Anton Banal on our website Philippines.
The voter registration activities will run until August 10. The Comelec will import the registration records from SK to regular voters, eliminating the need for SK voters who have turned 18 years old to register as regular voters.
In conclusion, the Comelec's approach helps prevent irregular transfers and ensures the integrity of the voters' list ahead of the barangay and SK elections. SK voters are encouraged to verify their registration details and update them if necessary, while new voters are invited to register during the registration period.
The Comelec's policy-and-legislation regarding the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in the Philippines prevents local registration record transfers for SK voters becoming regular voters. General news reported that Comelec's efforts to maintain the integrity of the voters' list ahead of the elections were successful, thanks to their approach that helps prevent irregular transfers.
