By JEN BAYLON
Two million registered voters in Negros Occidental are expected to cast their votes for the 2025 midterm elections, the latest data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed yesterday.
Comelec-NegOcc Election Supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria said there are fewer registered voters for the election next year, compared to the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls in 2023.
Ananoria said the province is divided into seven legislative districts, which span 19 municipalities and 13 cities, including capital Bacolod City.
Here is the breakdown of the number of registered voters per local government unit:
Bacolod Lone District: 356,814
First District:
* Calatrava – 53,776
* Don Salvador Benedicto – 20,127
* Toboso – 32,739
* Escalante City – 64,287
* San Carlos City – 87,598
Second District:
* Manapla – 33,865
* Cadiz City – 93,597
* Sagay City – 85,477
Third District:
* E.B. Magalona – 41,734
* Murcia – 56,993
* Silay City – 90,316
* Talisay City – 68,549
* Victorias City – 60,904
Fourth District:
* Pontevedra – 34,257
* Pulupandan – 18,154
* San Enrique – 19,758
* Valladolid – 27,220
* Bago City – 103,683
* La Carlota City – 45,710
Fifth District:
* Binalbagan – 45,910
* Hinigaran – 55,893
* Isabela – 43,008
* La Castellana – 51,604
* Moises Padilla – 28,029
* Himamaylan City – 78,270
Sixth District:
* Candoni – 16,580
* Cauayan – 60,069
* Hinoba-an – 39,152
* Ilog – 35,498
* Kabankalan City – 110,775
* Sipalay City – 49,218
The data indicates a nearly balanced gender ratio among voters, with 983,866 registered male voters and 1,025,698 female voters.
A total of 13,004 precincts, clustered into 2,484 voting centers, have been established to facilitate the voting process.
Comelec-NegOcc has been working to ensure that the necessary infrastructure and security measures are in place to support a smooth electoral process across all precincts.
The large voter turnout is expected to reflect the high level of civic engagement in the province./JB, WDJ