Comelec Eyes Automated Barangay, SK Polls in December 2025

Manila, Philippines — Following the smooth and efficient conduct of the May 12, 2025 national and local elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is now seriously considering the automation of the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled for December 1, 2025.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia, in a recent interview, highlighted the significant advantages of automated polls, pointing to the faster transmission of results, reduced risks of election-related violence, and minimized chances of electoral fraud.

“If we automate the BSKE, we can expect results in just hours. There will be no more ballot snatching, threats, or intimidation. Automation creates a safer, more transparent process for everyone,” Garcia emphasized.

Unlike national polls, BSKE canvassing happens right at the barangay level eliminating the need for data transmission to centralized locations. This, according to Garcia, makes automation even more feasible and efficient for grassroots-level elections.

“The canvassing and proclamation take place within the barangay itself. So transmission is no longer a concern for us,” he explained.

Comelec previously conducted a pilot test of automated BSKE in October 2023. The test was carried out in Barangays Zone II Poblacion and Paliparan III in Dasmariñas City, Cavite, and in Barangay Pasong Tamo in Quezon City’s 6th District.

“The difference between manual and automated was very clear. In those pilot areas, we witnessed the speed and order of automation. Proclamations were done quickly and peacefully,” Garcia noted.

However, the poll chief admitted that automation comes with a higher price tag.

“There’s no denying that manual elections are more cost-effective. Automation demands a bigger budget, especially at the barangay level,” Garcia said.

Despite the ongoing discussions on automation, Comelec is moving ahead with preparations for a full manual conduct of the December 1 BSKE unless Congress provides funding and approval for an automated shift.

Still, the Comelec remains optimistic that the long-term benefits of automation faster results, safer elections, and public trust will eventually outweigh the initial cost.

As the countdown to the December polls begins, the question now is whether the country’s smallest political units will soon experience the same digital transformation that has already modernized national voting.

- Philippine People's Press, In Truth We Prevail