• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental is expected to remain as one of the country’s vote-rich provinces in the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), data of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed.
The BSKE is scheduled on Nov. 2.
Comelec Negros Island Region (NIR) Director Lionel Marco Castillano said that Negros Occidental currently ranks sixth among the nation’s vote-rich provinces, excluding the National Capital Region.
Cavite remains at the top of the list.
Comelec records showed that Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, has 2,009,564 registered voters.
The NIR recorded a total of 241,422 registrants for the 2026 BSKE during the entire registration period from Oct. 20, 2025 to May 18, 2026.
Negros Occidental accounted for the biggest share with 164,375 registrants. Negros Oriental recorded 72,081 and Siquijor registered 4,966 voters.
The Comelec-NIR is now in the process of preparing the official voters’ database and precinct clustering following the close of voter registration.
Castillano said the Election Registration Board hearings will begin on June 1 to deliberate on the voter registration applications and any opposition filed against them.
He expressed optimism that the number of registered voters in Negros Occidental will either match or exceed previous election figures. | GB
