Three Million New Voters Targeted for 2028
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will launch a nine-month voter registration drive on Nov. 10, 2026, aimed at adding three million new voters to the national rolls. The campaign will run through July 30, 2027, serving as the primary lead-up to the May 2028 national and local elections.
Cleaning the Rolls for a 74-Million Electorate
Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia announced an ambitious target: growing the total number of registered voters from the current 71 million to 74 million. To manage this influx, the commission has pulled its cutoff date forward to July 30, 2027. This shift provides the Election Registration Board in each municipality the necessary window to verify applications and cross-reference fingerprints and signatures against the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, a move designed to eliminate double registrations. We want to complete the cleansing of our voters’ list before 2027,
Garcia said. The commission aims to finalize these lists and print official copies in time for the upcoming cycle.
Localized Delays in Naga City and Batanes
While the national rollout begins November 10, two regions will hold back. Naga City and Batanes are delaying their registration windows by one week to accommodate pressing local electoral exercises. Naga City is preparing for a November 21 plebiscite on its status as a highly urbanized city, while Batanes will host a special election on November 28 to fill the congressional seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr. The Naga City plebiscite is expected to cost PHP50 million, with the local government covering PHP20 million and the Comelec providing the remaining PHP30 million.
Tighter Rules on Identification
Effective immediately, barangay certificates and community tax certificates (cedulas) are no longer accepted as valid proof of identity. In the past, these were always included, but this time we will not allow a barangay certification as proof of a registrant’s identity,
Garcia stated.
Streamlining Candidate Eligibility
The decision to move the registration deadline to July 2027 serves a dual purpose. Chair Garcia noted that the earlier cutoff ensures that all candidates filing certificates of candidacy for the 2028 elections are verified, registered voters in their respective districts. This creates a buffer that leaves no room for questions regarding candidate eligibility.
Voters Can Register at Local Offices or Satellite Sites
Prospective voters may visit the Office of the Election Officer in their locality or utilize designated satellite and mall registration sites. The commission will also deploy its Register Anywhere Program (RAP) and Special Register Anywhere Program (SRAP) to increase accessibility. Registration hours are set for 8 a.m. The registration process covers first-time voters, transfers from Foreign Service Posts, reactivation of deactivated records, and updates for vulnerable sectors, including persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and members of Indigenous Peoples or Indigenous Cultural Communities. Regarding concerns over regional stability, Chair Garcia confirmed that the Naga City plebiscite remains unaffected by recent activity at Mayon Volcano, which was raised to Alert Level 3 following an eruption on Oct. 30.
Election Calendar
- May 8, 2028: National and local elections.
- November 13, 2028: Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
The current push for three million additional voters follows a period where the national electorate reached 71 million registered individuals.
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