Bangsamoro voters get mock poll taste of elections, but awareness gaps linger

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Voters in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) gained their first practical experience with the electoral process through a mock election and public forum held on June 9 at Notre Dame University (NDU) in Cotabato City. Organized by Rappler in partnership with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the event aimed to familiarize over 100 Bangsamoro voters with the upcoming historic first regional parliamentary elections scheduled for September 2026. Comelec Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco provided an orientation on the voting process, explaining who voters would be electing and how their votes function within the parliamentary government. Participants then engaged in a simulated election using sample ballots designed with fictitious candidates but mirroring the official layout and design for election day. For many attendees, the mock election offered a clearer understanding of the mechanics of the region's inaugural parliamentary polls. Apple Dadang, the forum's host, expressed in the Rappler app's chat room that the forum "enlightened my mind on what [I should] look [for in the] upcoming elections, and [it] added confidence to the election process." Bea Abelardo, another participant, stated that the forum encouraged her to become a more discerning voter by evaluating political parties based on their platforms and track records. However, discussions during the forum also highlighted persistent gaps in voter awareness across the region. Laudiangco cited a survey indicating that 89.1% of the BARMM population are unaware of the voting process, particularly parliamentary districts, and 85.9% did not know they are not voting for a chief minister. Saudii Daud, Mindanao desk editor of S’bang Ka Mindanao, a digital news platform, noted, "Many voters still do not fully understand how the parliamentary election works in the BARMM. If you ask people in local communities, only a few truly know that we will not be voting directly for the chief minister. We are not voting for the chief minister but for political parties. Very few people really understand how the parliamentary voting system works. And that is one of the challenges we see." Disinformation and access to information were also identified as significant challenges. Daud warned, "One of the major threats is disinformation and misinformation. Especially now that social media is widely used, people can easily be manipulated by false or misleading information, particularly if they are not well-informed and do not know how to cross-check, fact-check, or verify information." Jennevie Paguilidan Cornelio of Inged Fintailan echoed the concern about accessing correct information, noting it as a challenge for both the non-Moro indigenous communities and the general populace, given the novelty of a regional parliamentary election. The region's parliamentary elections have been postponed four times, leading to public uncertainty about their realization. Drema Quitayen-Bravo, station manager of Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation, highlighted that repeated delays have fueled public uncertainty and eroded trust. Neil John Martin of iDEFEND Mindanaw warned that continued postponements might lead voters to lose interest. Nevertheless, Comelec reassured the public that the September 2026 elections are highly likely to proceed, as no bill seeking further postponement is currently pending in Congress. Laudiangco detailed Comelec's preparations, including the deployment of 6,440 automated counting machines across 5,212 voting precincts and the printing of 2.3 million ballots. As the elections move forward, panelists raised concerns and hopes for a peaceful and secure electoral process. Abdulnasser Bagundang, an NDU faculty member, emphasized the need for a military presence in the "hotspot area" to ensure voter security and protect the integrity of the election.