The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported that voter turnout reached a record high 81.65% for the midterm national and local elections.
“We are happy because, despite it being a midterm election, the voters still cast their ballots – this is the highest in a midterm election,” said Comelec chair George Garcia.
Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudinagco said the figure is subject to finalization based on the completion of canvassing by all Boards of Canvassers.
Out of 68,431,965 registered voters nationwide, at least 55,874,700 individuals cast their votes at polling stations, he said.
The current figure does not include the 1.24 million Filipinos registered abroad, and results for overseas absentee voting have not yet been released.
It is anticipated that the total number will rise, as the parliamentary elections for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have been rescheduled for October.
The Comelec views these BARMM parliamentary elections as a continuation of the 2025 midterm elections. This marks the first time the commission used South Korean company Miru Systems as its election technology provider, which faced several controversies during the transition.
This turnout occurred despite challenging conditions, including warm temperatures and crowded environments, which could have deterred many from exercising their right to vote, he added.
In the 2022 presidential elections, the Comelec recorded a voter turnout of 84.20%. Of the 65,831,806 registered voters, 55,431,939 participated to choose the next president.