MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Wednesday that preparations for the November 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections are now a top priority following the Supreme Court’s affirmation of the law that postponed the polls.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the High Tribunal’s ruling puts to rest discussions on the legality of the postponed elections.

“This, hopefully, would finally put an end to endless speculations concerning the BSKE. Now that the SC has spoken, the Comelec can now focus on our timelines and our preparations,” Garcia said in a statement.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Republic Act 12232, which sets the term of office of barangay and SK officials, noting that the law resulting in the rescheduling of the December 2025 polls to November 2026 was “merely incidental.”

The Comelec also reported progress in the printing of official ballots for next year’s elections. As of Tuesday, 85 percent of the 69,259,342 ballots—equivalent to 58,933,937—have been printed at the National Printing Office. Only 10,325,405 ballots remain to be printed for Central Luzon (2,702,043) and the National Capital Region (7,623,362).

Meanwhile, printing for the 23,498,647 SK ballots has yet to begin. Paper rolls for the SK ballots are stored at the Sta. Rosa, Laguna warehouse, with hauling services still being procured.

The commission began printing all 92,757,989 official ballots last month. (PNA)