The return of the Barangay and SK elections
Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) pushed through last Oct. 30, 2023
By Dhel Nazario
After multiple postponements, the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) pushed through last Oct. 30, 2023 where a total 91,094,822 individuals were expected to vote from 42,001 barangays in 149 cities and 1,485 municipalities.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) employed more stringent measures and efforts to counter vote buying, selling and other unscrupulous acts that has persisted in the past conduct of elections. While Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said that it’s difficult to comment on its efficacy, seeing the environment is tidier even during the campaign period is a different kind of accomplishment.

For the duration of the election period, a total of 19 people were killed while 19 more were injured from Aug. 28 to Oct. 31. Despite the incidents, Garcia also stated that the conduct of the elections was generally peaceful.
This election also set a new timeline for the BSKE and because of it, Comelec will have to prepare for two polls in 2025; the BSKE and the May 2025 National and Local Elections. This was after the Supreme Court (SC) declared unconstitutional the law postponing Dec. 5, 2022 BSKE.