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In a comprehensive public statement, George Erwin Mojica Garcia , Chairman of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), highlighted the Commission’s readiness, integrity safeguards , and commitment to inclusive and credible elections.   Swift but Careful Ballot Printing On the printing of ballots for the March 14 Antipolo City 2nd Congressional District Special Election , Chairman Garcia emphasized operational preparedness. He explained that ballot printing could begin immediately and be completed within days. However, speed would never compromise quality. Every ballot, he assured, will undergo strict verification, checked thoroughly for clarity, cleanliness, smudges, misprints, or defects that would require reprinting. The Commission is prepared to complete the entire process within five working days, demonstrating both efficiency and meticulous attention to detail. His message was clear: preparedness must be matched by precision.   Zero Tolerance for Premature Camp...

  COMELEC Commissioner Rey E. Bulay and COMELEC Chairman George Garcia, together with SM Supermalls Vice President for Mall Operations Junias Eusebio and Assistant Vice President Royston Cabunag, formally ink the renewed partnership for Voter Registration and Mall Voting for the upcoming 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and SM Supermalls formally renewed their partnership for the Voter Registration Program and Mall Voting implementation for the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) through a Memorandum of Agreement signing held on December 2 at the COMELEC Office in Intramuros, Manila. The renewal marks another milestone in both institutions’ shared commitment to making voter services more accessible, safer, and more convenient for Filipinos nationwide. In his message, SM Supermalls Vice President for Mall Operations, Mr. Junias Eusebio, highlighted the remarkable growth of the ...

  In a historic celebration of Philippine democracy, COMELEC Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia played a central role in launching the Commission’s forthcoming commemorative volume, Guardians of the Ballot: 85 Years of the Commission on Elections of the Philippines. Chairman Garcia personally signed the contract for the publication with esteemed author Prof. Gerard A. Lico , marking a significant milestone in documenting the legacy of the Commission. The commemorative volume serves as both a historical testament and a cultural archive, capturing COMELEC’s long and vigilant stewardship of the Filipino vote. From landmark elections and pivotal reforms to the quiet dedication of countless personnel, the book highlights the Commission’s unwavering commitment to integrity, transparency, and service across generations.   Chairman Garcia emphasized that this initiative reflects a shared vision with Prof. Lico: to narrate the story of Philippine elections with clarity, integrity,...

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC), under the steadfast leadership of Chairman George Erwin Mojica Garcia, has once again brought pride to the Philippines by being recognized on the international stage.  At a ceremony organized by the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies (ICPS) , COMELEC and its Chairman received three major awards: • The Electoral Commissioner of the Year • The International Institutional Engagement Award • The First-Time Voters Award These honors are a testament to Chairman Garcia’s unwavering dedication and commitment to democratic governance, electoral integrity, and inclusive political participation in the Philippines. Championing Electoral Integrity Since assuming the chairmanship, Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia has emphasized the importance of truth, transparency, and trust in every electoral process. His leadership has been pivotal in strengthening COMELEC’s credibility as a guardian of the people’s voice, particularly at a time ...

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) officially launched the “Botong Bangsamoro 2025” Voter Education Campaign on August 20, 2025 at Ebrahim Hall, KDT Manor Hotel, Cotabato City. The initiative came less than two months before the October 13 BARMM Parliamentary Elections and gathered key electoral stakeholders, including political parties, ministries, civil society groups, security forces, and international partners.   COMELEC BARMM Regional Election Director Atty. Ray F. Sumalipao emphasized that the campaign’s theme, “Isang Bangsamoro, Isang Boto: Together we vote, together we rise,” symbolizes unity and the power of every vote. Bangsamoro Transition Authority Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua echoed this, stressing that participation is vital in shaping the region’s future. “This campaign is our collective call for every Bangsamoro to take part and make their voice count,” he said. COMELEC Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia highlighted the importance of voter educ...

  Intramuros, Manila — On August 1, 2025, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), led by Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia , officially began the nationwide voter registration for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections scheduled on December 1, 2025. Registration centers, including Offices of Election Officer, satellite sites, and Special Register Anywhere/Anytime Program (SRAP) locations in the National Capital Region, drew large turnouts despite it being a weekday. COMELEC reported a favorable turnout on the first day, indicating strong public interest in participating in the electoral process. The agency projected an increase of one million new registrants during the 10-day period, with around 500,000 expected to come from youth voters aged 15 to 17.   The registration period runs from August 1 to 10, 2025. The SRAP in NCR is available until August 7 at designated locations, including the COMELEC Main Office’s Chairman’s Hall at Palacio del Gobernador in Intram...

  The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) conducted a three-day Risk Management Capacity Training and Workshop from July 16 to 18, 2025, at The Heritage Hotel in Pasay City. COMELEC Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia and Commissioner Rey E. Bulay led the activity, which aimed to boost internal readiness for the 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) . The workshop gathered officials and members from various departments and working committees. Commissioner Rey E. Bulay, who leads the 2025 BSKE, opened the event by stressing the importance of readiness regardless of whether the elections proceed as scheduled. COMELEC Chair George Erwin M. Garcia added, “Lahat ng mga ginagawa natin ay parte ng paghahanda sa major event. Kung handa ka, matuloy man ang eleksyon [o hindi], wala tayong problema.” Participants revisited Resolution No. 10924, the codified guidelines for the BSKE, and reviewed the updated election timeline. The sessions included scenario planning and discus...

  With the May 2025 elections fast approaching, all eyes are on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as it ensures a smooth, credible, and transparent electoral process. At the forefront of this mission is Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia , a respected legal expert and public servant committed to strengthening democratic processes in the Philippines. Chairman Garcia’s leadership is pivotal in addressing key electoral concerns, from enhancing the automated election system and implementing security measures to combating misinformation and increasing voter participation. His proactive stance in improving voter education and ensuring the integrity of the election process reflects Comelec’s commitment to upholding democracy.   As part of his efforts to keep the public informed, Chairman Garcia will headline the first-ever Kapihan sa Makati, organized by TopNewsAsia, on March 13, 2025, at The E Hotel Makati . This landmark event provides a timely and essential platfo...

Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin Mojica Garcia is the featured cover leader in the premier issue of TopNewsAsia that has been launched last February 11 at National Book Stores nationwide.  When asked about his task and position in one of the most important agencies in the Philippines.    “ It's a very difficult position. I came from the private sector. I used to be an election lawyer practitioner for the last 23 years, focusing mainly on election lawyering and I did not really anticipate that the job of being the chairman of the commission is completely different from being a lawyer of the different candidates or different elective and appointive officials. Of course, you have to manage of almost 7,000 people nationwide. You have to manage the election every now and then at the same day you have plebiscites, you have special elections, you have electoral exercises that are not necessarily regular in character.  So again, it's not an easy job.”- Chairm...

  In an unprecedented move to ensure the integrity and efficiency of the upcoming 2025 elections, Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman George Erwin Garcia spearheaded a comprehensive mock election exercise across the nation. This proactive approach marks a significant milestone in the Philippines' electoral process, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to democracy.   The mock elections, a first of its kind under Chairman Garcia's leadership, were meticulously designed to test and refine every aspect of the voting process. From the remote barangays to the bustling cities, over 100 transmissions were successfully sent from precincts to municipal and city canvassing centers, then onto the central server. But it didn't stop there; these results were also transmitted to various critical nodes including PPCRV (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting) computers, NAMFREL (National Movement for Free Elections) servers, media outlets, as well as majority and mino...

  Commission on Elections (COMELEC) headed by Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia releases the list of Elective Positions for 2025 May Elections with a total number of more than 18,000 seats Elective Positions and Number of Seats •Senators (12) •Member, House of Representatives of Legislative Districts (254) •Member, House of Representatives for Party-list (63) •Governors (82) •Vice Governors (82) •Members, Sangguniang Panlalawigan (800) •City Mayors (149) •City Vice Mayors (149) •Member, Sangguniang Panlungsod (1,682) •Municipal Mayors (1,493) •Municipal Vice Mayors (1,493) •Members, Sangguniang Bayan (11,948) •BARMM Members, Registered Regional Political Parties (40) •BARMM Members of the Parliamentary Districts (25)     Total Number of Seats 18,272

September 20, 2024, Philippines. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) headed by honorable Chairman George Erwin Mojica Garcia graced the Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony between Comelec and United Nation Development Programme (UNDP).   UNDP Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran was also in attendance together with the new Ambassador of Japan in the Philippines, His Excellency Endo Kazuya.   Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia signs MOU between COMELEC & UNDP Chairman Garcia stated: Conducting the first parliamentary election is a very difficult task. And as I have repeatedly said before, the COMELEC can not do it alone. We need the help of everybody, not only the Filipinos, but more particularly, agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It is very, very important because this is our commitment to peace. “Mr. Ambassador (H.E. Endo Kazuya), even if it is just 73 members of Parliament and not 80, we will proceed with the...

The Commission on Elections on the morning of August 31, 2024 received 8,640 units of Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) and other peripherals at the COMELEC Warehouse in Biñan, Laguna, in connection with the 2025 National and Local Elections and 1 Bangsamoro autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections. Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia and Senior Officials led the inspection of the partial delivery of ACMs, witnessed by members of the media and other election stakeholders, to ensure that all items to be received are in good condition and to order immediate replacement in case of any damages. Each ACM unit delivered include the following items:  ACM case, power cords and adapters, privacy screens, thermal paper rolls, devices to aid voting by Persons with Disability (PWD), paper seals and other election peripherals. In line with the COMELEC’s thrust for transparency and inclusivity , the Biñan Warehouse has a designated viewing deck for members of the medi...