ELECTIONS chairman George Garcia yesterday said he is confident that a high number of voters from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will cast their votes in region’s first parliamentary polls set on October 13.
“I’m optimistic that the voter turnout in the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections will be high,” said Garcia.
He cited the 82.2 percent voter turnout during the May 2025 national and local polls, the highest in the country’s history of midterm elections.
Add to this, Garcia said, is the voters information drive set to be launched by the Comelec regarding the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE).
He said they also expect other stakeholders, including the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and poll watchdogs, to actively educate the 2.3 million BARMM voters.
“There is enough time for everyone to be given information about the benefits of the parliamentary elections, and why it is important to vote,” he said.
The Comelec held mock polls in select towns of Lanao del Sur and Tawi-Tawi from 7 to 10 a.m. last Saturday.
“We are satisfied with the results. Everything we wanted to see happened and were accomplished,” said Garcia.
He said 399 out of the 400 expected voters cast their votes during the mock polls.
The results of the voting was completely transmitted to the Regional Board of Canvassers past 11 a.m., also on Saturday.
“The Comelec is ready (for the BPE)… although, there are still a few adjustments that need to be made,” Garcia said.
