LocationsUNDP, COMELEC strengthen meaningful and inclusive electoral participation in BARMM through voter education
May 4, 2026
Young leaders from BARMM ideate behavior change-focused materials and formulated communication plans to guide the rollout of voter education activities at the community level.
Davao City, Philippines - Youth leaders and civil society partners from across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) convened to strengthen voter education strategies and better reach communities, particularly in preparation for the first parliamentary elections scheduled in September 2026.
Two parallel workshops were held as part of the initiative. The Voters Education and Communication Materials Ideation Workshop for BARMM Youth provided a platform for 44 young leaders to revisit key elements of the region’s electoral system, including its historical context and legal foundations. Sessions underscored the importance of inclusivity and equitable access to electoral information and highlighted the need to ensure that all sectors, particularly underserved and marginalized communities, can participate meaningfully in the democratic process.
A key focus of the workshop was shifting from one-way information dissemination to more strategic, audience-centered communication approaches using social and behavior change communication (SBCC). Participants examined common barriers to voter participation, including misinformation, misconceptions on how to choose the right candidate, and a limited understanding of the voting process. They then explored how to address these challenges through clearer, more relatable, and accessible messaging.
In parallel, a pilot testing activity for the rollout of the Meaningful Participation and Inclusive Elections in BARMM: Community Voters’ Education Module was conducted with sectoral leaders and civic engagement advocates in partnership with the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE).
The activity equipped 25 participants with foundational knowledge on voters’ rights and responsibilities, meaningful participation, and inclusive representation, as well as practical tools to support community-level voter education efforts. It also supported participants’ capacity to facilitate discussions and activities that encourage informed participation and foster greater trust and engagement in the electoral process.
“Representing Tawi-Tawi, I was able to share our realities and challenges while also learning practical ways to improve how we communicate electoral information,” said youth leader Ed Casipong. “The sessions helped me see how voter education can be made more relatable and grounded in people’s everyday experiences. These are approaches that we will bring back and apply in our communities.”
Casipong added that the exchange with fellow youth and sectoral leaders reinforced the vital role of young people in promoting informed and meaningful participation. He emphasized that voter education goes beyond learning. It isensuring that even the most remote communities are seen, heard, and fully included in the democratic process.
By the end of the workshops, youth participants developed communication materials and drafted plans that reflect local contexts and priorities. The pilot testing of the Community Voters’ Education Module also informed a more tailored approach to engaging communities. These outputs will support ongoing efforts to build a more informed, engaged, and participatory electorate in BARMM.
“As BARMM prepares for its first parliamentary elections, the leadership of young people and civil society is essential to making this historic democratic milestone truly inclusive,” said UNDP Resident Representative in the Philippines Christophe Bahuet. “By helping people access clear, trusted information—and by reaching communities that are too often left behind— UNDP with support from Japan is helping ensure that every voice, including those in the most remote and marginalized sectors, can be counted in the ballot box.”
The activities were conducted under the Project for Raising Voters’ Awareness and Promoting Digitalization of the Electoral Process in Bangsamoro, funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), and supported by the Youth Empowerment Project in the Asia and Pacific (YEP). [E]
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