https://youtube.com/live/l4w47e4ZBx0 The year 2025 was supposed to be a super election year for the Philippines with the national and local midterm elections in May, the first regular Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections in October, and the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in December. The BARMM elections and
The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) expresses its disappointment and dismay over the signing by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of Republic Act No. 12326 on September 24, 2026 — a law that postpones the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) from November 2, 2026 to the second Monday of November
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report examines how civil society organizations (CSOs) monitor political and campaign finance in five Asian democracies—India, Indonesia, Mongolia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. While each country operates within its own political and regulatory context, they share common challenges in achieving transparency in political and campaign finance, including incomplete or
Quezon City, September 22, 2026 — Congress has passed a bill extending the term of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials from four to five years. The bill amends Republic Act No. 12232, moving the BSKE, originally scheduled for November 2, 2026 to November 2028. We call on President Marcos to veto this
Read the full statement here: "Short-term Observation Statement | Joint ANFREL-NDI Technical Assessment Mission for the 2026 BARMM Parliamentary Elections" Executive Summary The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) congratulate voters for their strong participation in the historic and long-awaited elections for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region
September 15, 2026, Cotabato City - LENTE assesses elections beyond simply considering the number of voting centers opened, the number of ballots cast, and the percentage of the results transmitted; far from ticking these bureaucratic checkboxes, it is vital to ask whether the public has confidence in the process and, later on,
14 September 2026. As voting is underway for the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections, the joint Technical Assessment Mission (TAM) of the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) continues to closely monitor developments across the region through the deployment of international
September 10, 2026, Cotabato City — After several postponements and delays, Bangsamoro voters will finally choose their first elected parliament on 14 September 2026, ending the transition period that began in 2019. With four days left until the 14 September BARMM Parliamentary Elections, the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) calls on all
Mandaluyong City — The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) released its Pre-Election Assessment of the September 14, 2026 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections, finding that while the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is technically and logistically prepared to administer the region's first regular parliamentary polls, five compounding
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) are jointly undertaking a Technical Assessment Mission (TAM) for the September 14, 2026 Parliamentary Elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Philippines – the region’s first parliamentary elections since the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) released today, 1 September 2026, the report of its pre-election assessment for the first BARMM Parliamentary Elections. Read the full report here: "ANFREL-NDI Pre-Election Assessment Report for the First BARMM Parliamentary Elections" Executive Summary After successive postponements, the Bangsamoro Autonomous
Opposing House Bill No. 10376: Hold the Line on the November 2, 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) expresses its firm opposition to House Bill No. 10376, filed on August 1, 2026 and formally introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives on
Notes unresolved legal questions and accreditation concerns as election period begins The Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) continues to monitor the 2026 BARMM Parliamentary Elections, the Bangsamoro people's first opportunity to election their own regional Parliament, as the election period formally opens last 16 July 2026, ahead of the 14 September
PRE-CAMPAIGN STATEMENTCotabato City, July 30, 2026 The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) have concluded the first phase of their joint Technical Assessment Mission (TAM) ahead of the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Parliamentary Elections (BPE) scheduled for September 14, 2026. The elections mark
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) are deploying a joint Technical Assessment Mission (TAM) for the 14 September 2026 First Regular Parliamentary Elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Philippines – the region’s first parliamentary elections since the ratification of the Bangsamoro
A HOLLOW VICTORY: Why HB 8389 Falls Short of a Genuine Anti-Political Dynasty Law A Step Forward - But Not Enough The National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) acknowledges the historic passage of House Bill No. 8389, or the Anti-Political Dynasty Act, by the House of Representatives. For the first time
Executive Summary On 8 February 2026, Thailand reached a significant political milestone as voters simultaneously participated in a general election and a constitutional referendum for the first time in the country’s history. The elections produced a government with the strongest electoral mandate since the 2014 military coup and marked the first parliamentary
Electoral integrity cannot be achieved by a single organization acting in isolation. Lessons on strategic collaboration and cross-sectoral alliances are what the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) hopes to share with the region to the seventh Asian Electoral Stakeholders Forum (AESF-VII). In an interview, PPCRV Executive Director Maribel Buenaobra highlighted
From mobilizing hundreds of thousands of citizens on the ground to deploying cutting-edge mobile apps, the evolution of election monitoring tells a powerful story of civic duty matching pace with modern technology. Ahead of the seventh Asian Electoral Stakeholders Forum (AESF-VII) in Manila, we talked to the National Citizens' Movement for Free
Two bills1 recently filed in the Bangsamoro Parliament seek to strip the Bangsamoro Electoral Code and the Bangsamoro Local Governance Code of their anti-dynasty provisions. These bills must be rejected. The 1987 Constitution, under Section 26, Article II, does not state that only Congress may define and regulate political dynasties. Rather, it
Election day is often seen as the climax of democracy, but for the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), the real work happens in the systems and structures built long before the first ballot is cast. In a recent discussion with LENTE Executive Director Atty. Ona Caritos, the organization outlined the critical
The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) strongly and unequivocally opposes any move to postpone the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled for November 2026. Reports that the government intends to defer these elections — and realign the Commission on Elections' (COMELEC) preparation budget toward other government priorities — represent
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) announce the postponement of the seventh Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum (AESF-7) in Manila, originally scheduled to take place from 21 to 23 April 2026, in light of the declaration of a national energy emergency in the Philippines. Philippine President
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), in partnership with Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) and Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), are co-hosting the 7th Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum (AESF-7) in Manila, Philippines from 21 to
https://www.youtube.com/live/yOo35vMTyFA?si=XwvXbCwYhYQr_aja The Asian Network for Free Elections is hosting a two-part webinar on political rights and movements in Southeast Asia. The first and second parts of the webinar will be on 17 and 24 October 2025, respectively. For the first part, ANFREL executive council member Asiath Rilweena and Professor Duncan McCargo will
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the Commission on Elections Technical Working Group (COMELEC TWG) met on 16 September 2025 for the preparations for the seventh Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum (AESF-VII). ANFREL and COMELEC TWG worked on finalizing the operational timeline, procurement and convening of working groups to finalize the
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Technical Working Group met on 4 September 2025 to discuss preparations for the seventh Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum. ANFREL and the COMELEC TWG for AESF-VII are working on refining the program design and technical and logistical preparations. On 16
Resilient Participation in a Constrained Electoral Landscape Overview This issue of Data Dive draws from the Final Election Observation Report recently released by the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) following its comprehensive monitoring of the 2025 Philippine National and Local Midterm Elections held on 12 May 2025. Conducted in a politically
https://www.youtube.com/live/dPdDKRnZQvg?feature=shared In a special episode of The Election Observer, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) discusses monitoring social media during the 2025 national and local elections in the Philippines with colleagues and partners from The Carter Center. ANFREL executive director Brizza Rosales, data analyst Olivia Leu and program associate Dan Richardson
DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT: "High Turnout, Low Competition: Resilient Participation in a Constrained Electoral Landscape | 2025 Philippine Elections Final Report" EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) commends the people of the Philippines for their robust participation in the 2025 National and Local Elections on 12 May 2025. These