MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is aiming to register at least three million overseas voters for the 2028 national and local elections (NLE).

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said he is optimistic about reaching the target, noting that 2028 will be a presidential election year.

“2028 is a very crucial year. It is crucial in our political history because we are electing the president and vice president and other positions. This is very important,” Garcia said during the signing of a memorandum of agreement for the establishment of overseas voter registration centers last week.

Garcia said they are eyeing around two million new registrants when overseas voter registration resumes on December 1. He added that the Comelec will also coordinate with other government agencies to boost the registration turnout.

The registration period will run until September 30, 2027.

During the last registration cycle from December 9, 2022 to September 30, 2024, around 200,000 overseas Filipinos signed up. For the May 2025 midterm elections, the total number of registered overseas voters reached 1.241 million. (PNA)