MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is aiming for a voter turnout of at least 70 percent to 75 percent in the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections on Sept. 14.

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the poll body hopes to encourage more of the region’s 2.39 million registered voters to participate in the historic elections.

“We hope we can increase not only the awareness but also the voter turnout among our fellow citizens. I hope we can reach at least 70 percent to 75 percent, or even higher,” Garcia said in a telephone interview.

He said a low turnout would undermine efforts to promote participation in the region’s first parliamentary elections.

“If we only manage a 20 percent voter turnout here in the Bangsamoro elections, it would seem as though we didn’t do anything about it,” Garcia said.

Based on Comelec data, the BARMM has 2,393,202 registered voters.

Lanao del Sur has the highest number of registered voters with 727,546, followed by Maguindanao del Sur with 469,114, Maguindanao del Norte with 419,365, Tawi-Tawi with 264,188, Basilan with 248,245, the Special Geographic Area with 133,673, and Cotabato City with 131,071.

For the Sept. 14 polls, the Comelec will establish 5,212 clustered precincts in 1,186 voting centers across the region’s 2,185 barangays.

Voters will elect one Regional Parliamentary Political Party and one Parliamentary District Representative for their respective districts.

They will also vote for six nominees representing Parliamentary Sectoral Organizations, including two for settler communities and one each for women, youth, traditional leaders, and the ulama.