Mock polls give Bangsamoro voters first look at elections, but awareness gaps remain

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Three months before the historic first regional parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), voters got their first look at the finalized layout of the ballots for the September 2026 polls during Rappler’s #AmbagNatin: Boto para sa Bangsamoro public forum last June 9 at Notre Dame University (NDU) in Cotabato City.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec), in partnership with Rappler, facilitated the mock election in NDU, which was attended by more than 100 Bangsamoro voters.

Prior to the mock election, Comelec Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco oriented the Bangsamoro voters on their voting process – who they will be voting for, and how their vote works in the parliamentary government.

Participants then took part in a simulated election using sample ballots bearing fictitious candidates but following the same layout and design that will be used on election day.

Bangsamoro voters cast shaded sample ballots in a mock election facilitated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) during the #AmbagNatin roadshow in Cotabato City on June 9, 2026.