Bayawan City:Negros Oriental The Commission on Elections in the Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) is striving to increase the number of registered voters in Negros Oriental to one million in preparation for the 2028 national and local elections. Currently, the province has 985,623 registered voters, which is still below the target.

According to Philippines News agency, Comelec-NIR Regional Election Director Lionel Marco Castillano announced that the commission is enhancing its voter registration campaign, focusing on vulnerable sectors such as Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and residents in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

To achieve this target, Comelec plans to conduct registration and voter education activities in IP communities located in Bayawan City, Sta. Catalina, Mabinay, and other areas. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia is considering the establishment of additional voting centers in large IP communities lacking nearby schools or existing polling places.

The agency will determine whether these communities are within a reasonable distance of schools used as voting centers. If not, Comelec may establish new voting centers to facilitate easier access to voting. "We do not want distance to become a reason for them to skip voting," Castillano emphasized.

Castillano also expressed concerns about candidates providing transportation and accommodation for voters residing far from polling places, as this could lead to captured votes. The commission aims to ensure that vulnerable sectors can exercise their voting rights freely and independently, without fear, intimidation, or undue influence.

Voter registration resumed on November 10, 2026, and will continue until July 30, 2027.