MANILA, Philippines — The number of voters in the 2028 elections is expected to reach around 74 million, up from the 68 million recorded in the 2025 polls, according to Comelec Chair George Garcia.
“Now our potential voters by 2028 are more or less 74 million,” Garcia told lawmakers during the House Committee on Appropriations’ budget hearing for the Comelec on Tuesday.
Garcia gave the estimate as the Comelec appealed for the restoration of its P9.2 billion proposed budget in the 2027 National Expenditure Program, which is intended for preparations for the national and local elections.
READ: Comelec: P9.12-B budget cut may ‘compromise’ 2028 elections
According to Garcia, the commission has already recorded 71 million registered voters. An additional 3 million voters are expected since registration will run until Sept. 30, 2027.
“By September of this year, if the barangay and SK elections cannot proceed, for example, if they do, we will have to start the registration of voters once again. And it will have to run until September 30 of 2027. That’s how long it is,” he explained.
The Comelec will need 124,000 electoral machines, he added.
READ: Comelec to hold 2028 COC filing in 3rd week of September 2027
He also reiterated that the Comelec plans to move the filing of Certificates of Candidacy for the 2028 elections to Sept. 20 to 27, 2027, the third week of September.
The new schedule, earlier than the original Oct. 1 to 7 filing period, would allow the printing of official ballots to begin by December next year. /mcm
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