Vote-buying has long been part of Philippine elections, but many Filipinos see it as a serious problem, especially for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
A recent Tugon ng Masa survey by OCTA Research found that 68% of Filipinos believe vote-buying will have a negative impact on the May 2025 elections.
Young voters are especially concerned, with 73% of Gen Z (18-24 years old) and 74% of Millennials (25-34 years old) saying that vote-buying will affect the results. Since these age groups make up a large part of the voting population, their views highlight growing awareness of the issue.
Across different regions, the concern is even stronger. At least 75% of voters in SOCCSKSARGEN, CALABARZON, CARAGA, Northern Mindanao, Western Visayas, BARMM, MIMAROPA, Cagayan Valley, and the Cordillera Administrative Region believe vote-buying will damage the elections.
In Cagayan Valley, 99% of voters shared this concern, while in Cordillera, the number reached 100%.
Despite this, 32% of Filipinos do not think vote-buying will have a major effect on the elections.
The survey also revealed that 66% of registered voters expect vote-buying to be widespread in the coming polls, especially in Ilocos Region, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, CARAGA, BARMM, Cordillera, MIMAROPA, and Cagayan Valley.
In contrast, in Negros Island (68%), the Davao Region (69%), and Central Luzon (56%), most voters believe vote-buying will not be as common.
OCTA Research, which conducted the survey from February 22 to 28, 2025, stressed that vote-buying is a serious threat to fair elections and democracy.
“The goal is to spark dialogue and encourage collective action among stakeholders,” OCTA Research said in a statement.
“OCTA Research believes addressing this issue is essential to ensuring fair elections and safeguarding democracy,” it added.
The survey included 1,200 registered voters and has a ±3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level.