The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will proceed, as scheduled, with the preparations for the May 2025 midterm elections, saying no legal impediments will prevent the poll body from proceeding with the elections despite a pending petition filed by former provider Smartmatic International with the Supreme Court (SC), poll Chairman George Garcia said.
“The Comelec will now prepare for the 2025 national and local elections,” Garcia said.
The new machines to be provided by Miru Systems will be used during the elections,” he said, assuring that the poll body will not resort to manual voting.
The South Korean firm led the joint venture group which won the P17.9 b project for the midterm polls. It was the lone bidder after it disqualified Smartmatic.
According to the Comelec, the scheduled activities for 2025 election as follows: August 31, 2024 — Last Day of Register Anywhere Program;
September 30, 2024 — Last Day of Local and Overseas Registration
September 1 to 28, 2024 — Period to hold political conventions by political parties to select or nominate candidates
October 1 to 8, 2024 — Filing of Certificate of Candidacy, Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance, and PL CON-CAN
January 12, 2025 to June 11, 2025 — Election Gun Ban
February 11, 2025 to May 10, 2025, excluding April 17, Maundy Thursday, and April 18, Good Friday — Campaign Period for candidates for Senator and groups in the Partylist Elections
March 28, 2025 to May 10, 2025, excluding April 17, Maundy Thursday, and April 18, Good Friday — Campaign Period for candidates for Member, House of Representatives, and parliamentary, provincial, city, and municipal officials
April 30, 2025 to May 12, 2025 — Voting by overseas voters
April 30, 2025 to May 12, 2025 — Voting by local absentee voters
May 11, 2025 — Liquor Ban, Campaign Prohibition
May 12, 2025 — Election Day
June 11, 2025 — Last Day of Filing Statements of Contributions and Expenditures
