MANILA— The Commission on Elections (Comelec) expects the number of registered voters to reach 74 million by the 2028 National and Local Elections (NLE), as the poll body prepares for a larger electorate and seeks the restoration of funds cut from its proposed budget.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia said Monday that around three million additional voters are expected to register ahead of the 2028 elections.

“We are projecting an additional three million voters. Kung sakasakali po pagdating po ng 2028, meron po tayong 74 million [voters],” Garcia said during the Comelec’s Senate budget hearing.

He added that another one million voters are expected to participate in the 2028 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) by November of that year.

The Comelec is seeking PHP 44.7 billion for 2027, but its proposed allocation was reduced by 34% to PHP 29.5 billion. The poll body is also preparing the terms of reference for the procurement of new voting machines for the 2028 NLE.

Garcia said voter registration will reopen in the second week of November and run until June 30, 2028, following the postponement of the BSKE to 2028 under Republic Act No. 12326.

“Pag nag-reset tayo ng BSKE, lagi po kaming hihingi ng dagdag na budget. Kasi po dagdag na botante, dagdag na presinto, dagdag na electoral board members, dagdag na election paraphernalia,” Garcia said.

The Comelec earlier said it had already spent PHP 8 billion of its PHP 19-billion BSKE budget. Some election supplies, including indelible ink, could remain unused because of the postponement.

Garcia said the poll body is hoping Congress will allow it to use the funds originally intended for the BSKE for the NLE.

“Maibabalik po namin yung P9.2 billion na nawala kay Comelec para sa national and local elections,” Garcia said.

BSKE postponement challenged

The Comelec’s preparations for the 2028 elections come as the postponement of the 2026 BSKE faces a legal challenge before the Supreme Court.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal filed a petition seeking a temporary restraining order or status quo ante order to stop the implementation of Republic Act No. 12326, which moved the BSKE from Nov. 2, 2026 to November 2028.

Macalintal also asked the high court to declare the law inoperative, invalid and/or unconstitutional insofar as it postpones the elections. The petition named the Office of the President through the Executive Secretary, the Senate, the House of Representatives and the Comelec as respondents.

The law, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last week, sets the next BSKE on the second Monday of November 2028 and fixes the terms of barangay and SK officials at five years.

Garcia said the Comelec would comply with whatever ruling the Supreme Court issues on the petition.

If the November 2, 2026 elections were to proceed, Garcia said the poll body would face difficulties meeting the schedule.

“Mukhang hindi namin kaya ang November 2. However, the Comelec always has the power to declare the postponement of elections.”

Under the Omnibus Election Code, elections may be postponed in cases involving terrorism, violence or force majeure.

The filing of certificates of candidacy for the BSKE had initially been scheduled from Sept. 28 to Oct. 5, 2026.

Under RA 12326, barangay officials elected in 2023 will be considered to have completed one term despite the extension. Those serving their final term in the same position will be barred from seeking the same post in the November 2028 BSKE.

The law also provides that vacancies in the Sangguniang Kabataan will be filled through appointment by the city or municipal mayor, while vacancies in the SK chairperson position will be filled through succession as provided by law.

Marcos, in defending the extension of the terms, said: “Ang dagdag na panahon sa panunungkulan ay dagdag na panahon para maglingkod.”

“Hindi ito dagdag na panahon sa puwesto. Dagdag itong panahon ng pananagutan sa taumbayan,” Marcos said.