Photo credit: Comelec

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) kicked off the nationwide voters’ registration with a bang—logging more than 36,000 applications on just the first day of enlistment on Monday, October 20.

According to Comelec data, a total of 36,536 Filipinos lined up to register or update their records across the country. Leading the pack was Calabarzon, which posted the highest number of applicants at 8,290, followed by the National Capital Region with 4,637, Central Luzon with 4,100, and Central Visayas with 3,145. On the other end, the Cordillera Administrative Region recorded the lowest turnout with 483 applications.

The registration period officially resumed on Monday and will run until May 18, 2026. Comelec offices and satellite registration sites in cities and municipalities are open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., including weekends, to accommodate more applicants.

Comelec reminded the public that they’re not just accepting new voter registrations. Other services include:
• Transfer of records
• Change of name or civil status
• Correction of entries
• Reactivation or inclusion of records

Reinstating names in the voters’ list

The poll body is aiming to register at least 1.4 million new voters in preparation for the November 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections.

Comelec officials encouraged eligible Filipinos, especially the youth, to register early and avoid the last-minute rush. After all, every registration counts—and so does every vote.