Comelec: Over 160,000 registered for BARMM polls

The number of registered voters in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) reached 161,429 by the end of the registration period, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Wednesday.

The figure covers applications processed from Feb. 9 to March 31, including a surge on the final day when 16,916 applications were filed, Comelec data showed.

Lanao del Sur recorded the highest participation with 50,918 newly registered voters, followed by Maguindanao del Norte (31,666) and Maguindanao del Sur (26,175). The commission also reported 21,734 newly registered voters in Basilan, 16,505 in the Special Geographic Area, and 14,431 in Tawi-Tawi.

Of the total, 81,874 registered voters were male, while 78,478 were female.

Comelec’s “Register Anywhere” program accounted for 1,077 applications, including 583 males and 494 females.

On the final day, all provinces reported increased activity, with Lanao del Sur processing the highest number at 6,229 applications.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. earlier signed Republic Act No. 12317, which reset the first regular BARMM parliamentary elections to Sept. 14 from March 30.

“For the purpose of synchronizing the BARMM Parliamentary Elections with the national and local elections, the regular elections for the Bangsamoro Government shall be held on the second Monday of May 2031 and every three years thereafter,” the law stated. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking