Comelec projects 74 million voters for 2028 elections amid budget and scheduling changes

During a Senate budget hearing, Comelec chair George Garcia announced that the voter registry is projected to rise to 74 million for the 2028 national and local elections, an increase of roughly three million from current levels. An additional one million voters are expected to take part in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, now moved to November 2028 after a law signed by President Ferdinand Marcos postponed them and extended officials' terms.

Comelec is seeking a P44.7-billion budget for 2027, up from the reduced P29.5 billion allocation, to cover the larger electorate, more precincts, and election materials. The agency is preparing a terms-of-reference document for new voting machines and aims to use surplus funds from the postponed BSKE, including P9.2 billion originally earmarked for national and local elections. Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal has filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking a temporary restraining order against the BSKE postponement, arguing the change may be unconstitutional.