Comelec Opens Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections to Newly Registered Voters
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has officially confirmed that newly registered voters in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will be eligible to participate in the upcoming September 2026 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE). This decision, formalized through Resolution 11213, ensures that the first-ever BPE isn’t restricted to those who were already registered during the May 2025 national and local polls.
Under the new resolution, any qualified voter registered in the permanent list of a precinct within a BARMM city or municipality—based on the most recent Election Registration Board hearing—is entitled to vote. This move expands the electorate beyond the 2,378,828 voters registered during the May 2025 elections.
- Election Date: The BPE is scheduled for the second Monday of September 2026 (September 14).
- Voter Expansion: Newly registered voters are now eligible to vote per Comelec Resolution 11213.
- Registration Success: Comelec registered 161,429 new voters, surpassing its 150,000 target.
- Candidate Mandate: All candidates and political parties must refile their COCs and CANs.
- Legal Basis: The elections were reset following the passage of Republic Act No. 12137.
Voter Registration Surpasses Targets
The voter registration period, which resumed on February 9, 2026, and concluded on March 31, 2026, saw a significant turnout. Comelec reported a total of 161,429 applications, exceeding the agency’s initial goal of 150,000 new registrants.
Regional Breakdown of New Registrants
Registration numbers varied across the region, with Lanao del Sur leading the surge. The breakdown is as follows:
- Lanao del Sur: 50,918 registrants (including 454 via the Register Anywhere Program)
- Maguindanao del Norte: 31,666 registrants
- Maguindanao del Sur: 26,175 registrants
- Basilan: 21,734 registrants
- Special Geographic Area (SGA) in Cotabato: 16,505 registrants
- Tawi-Tawi: 14,431 registrants (including 623 via the Register Anywhere Program)
New Requirements for Candidates and Political Parties
In a significant administrative update, Comelec has ordered all candidates and political parties to refile their official documentation for the BPE. This mandate applies even to those who previously submitted their paperwork in November 2024.
Specifically, the following must be refiled within the new period prescribed by the Commission:
- Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) for parliamentary district representatives.
- Certificates of Acceptance of Nomination (CANs).
- Lists of Nominees.
- Affidavits of non-affinity for political parties or coalitions.
This refiling process affects the 109 aspirants for parliamentary district representatives and the eight regional parliamentary political parties (RPPPs) that originally filed in late 2024, as detailed by SunStar.
Legal Framework and Election Timeline
The BPE has faced multiple delays, having been postponed four times. The current schedule is the result of Republic Act No. 12137, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. On March 25, 2026. This law officially reset the elections to the second Monday of September 2026.
The legislation also aims for long-term synchronization. According to the law, regular elections for the Bangsamoro Government will eventually be held on the second Monday of 2031 and every three years thereafter to align with national and local polls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to vote in the September 2026 BPE?
All qualified voters registered in the permanent list in a BARMM precinct, including those who registered during the February-March 2026 registration period.
Why do candidates need to refile their COCs?
Comelec has mandated the refiling of COCs, CANs, and Lists of Nominees to ensure all documentation is current for the rescheduled BPE date.
When is the official date of the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections?
The elections are set for September 14, 2026 (the second Monday of September).
As the region prepares for its first parliamentary polls, the focus now shifts to the refiling of candidacies and the finalization of voter lists to ensure a credible transition to the new parliamentary system.
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