The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has completed more than half of the over 90 million ballots for the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), as part of its early preparation for the nationwide polls.
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said on Wednesday, November 5, that around 50 million ballots have been printed since the process began on October 17 at the National Printing Office (NPO) in Quezon City, even though the elections are still set for November 2, 2026.
Of the total ballots, 69 million are allotted for barangay voters and 23 million for Sangguniang Kabataan voters. Alongside the ballots, the NPO is also printing accountable forms and other election materials.
Garcia said the Comelec expects to finish printing the BSKE ballots by next week, well ahead of schedule — a move aimed at avoiding logistical delays and ensuring readiness across voting centers nationwide.
He added that the poll body will shift focus next to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections, with ballot printing expected to start by February 2026.
The BARMM parliamentary polls were originally set for October 13 this year but were rescheduled following a Supreme Court ruling directing Comelec to hold the elections no later than March 31, 2026.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.