Comelec: Plebiscites, special SK polls suspended until Dec. 2025

Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday temporarily suspended the holding of plebiscites, as well as Special Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (SKSE) for the rest of 2024 until next year. In Comelec Resolution No. 11054 , the Commission en banc decided to delay such electoral exercises to focus on the holding three electoral exercises in 2025 -- the midterm elections and the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections in May and the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in December. "The forthcoming year 2025 is referred to as a 'Super Election Year' since three elections are about to take place... after the 2025 NLE and 2025 BPE, the Commission shall immediately commence the preparations for the 2025 BSKE," it said. The seven-member Commission en banc ordered the temporary suspension of all plebiscites and SKSE starting Sept. 1, 2024 until after the Dec. 1, 2025 BSKE. "The Commission En Banc, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, and other election laws, hereby resolves to suspend the conduct of SKSE until further notice," the Resolution read. The Comelec said it will concentrate its preparations for the 2025 polls which include the creation of digital ballots; configuration of ballot faces and machines; and conduct of tests for the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count (FASTrAC) and Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS), among others. In June 2024, the Comelec issued guidelines for the conduct of SKSE, which is necessary in barangays, where the number of SK officials elected is less than the required quorum; or where no SK official has been elected at all after nobody filed the necessary Certificate of Candidacy during the BSKE 2023. Meanwhile, the holding of plebiscites in Maguindanao del Norte; Presentacion, Camarines Sur; Cauyan, Negros Occidental; and Parañaque City would have to wait until after 2025. Source: Philippines News agency