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Mock Election Held in Cotabato City Ahead of September BARMM Vote
More than 100 Bangsamoro voters participated in a June 9 mock election at Notre Dame University using sample ballots matching the September 2026 layout. Comelec reported high levels of unfamiliarity with the parliamentary voting system.
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More than 100 Bangsamoro voters took part in a mock election at Notre Dame University in Cotabato City on June 9, 2026, using sample ballots that matched the layout and design planned for the September regional parliamentary elections. The Commission on Elections partnered with Rappler to run the exercise after Comelec Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco first oriented participants on the voting process.
A survey cited by Laudiangco found that 89.1 percent of the BARMM population remained unaware of the voting process, especially the parliamentary districts, while 85.9 percent did not know they would not be voting directly for a chief minister.
Saudii Daud of S’bang Ka Mindanao said few voters understood that they would select political parties rather than individual candidates for chief minister. The BARMM parliamentary elections have been postponed four times since the original May 2022 schedule. Drema Quitayen-Bravo of Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation said repeated delays have created uncertainty over whether the vote will occur.
Neil John Martin of iDEFEND Mindanaw added that further postponements could reduce voter interest. Comelec plans to deploy 6,440 automated counting machines across 5,212 precincts and print 2. Laudiangco stated that no bill seeking another postponement is pending in Congress.
