Comelec sees half of 1.3m voters abroad casting ballots
The official voting period for overseas Filipino voters began yesterday, with six expatriates in Singapore being the first to cast their votes for the May midterm elections through internet voting, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
In a statement, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the official overseas voting period started at 8 a.m. on April 13 and will end at 7 p.m. on May 12.
The poll body said 47,976 registered overseas voters (ROVs) are enrolled for internet voting, even as the enrollment period is still open for those who wish to exercise their right to suffrage.
Meanwhile, the Comelec expects almost 700,000 Filipinos residing abroad to cast their ballots during the month-long voting period, either in person at the premises of the various Philippine embassies or online.
“I hope we can at least get 50 percent of the 1.321 million voters because we are introducing Internet voting,” Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said over the weekend.
Of the 93 posts abroad, he said, 77 would use Internet voting, where Filipinos could vote through their gadgets, such as cellphones, tablets, and laptops.
Garcia encouraged those not yet enrolled to have themselves listed by enrolling at ov.comelec.gov.ph/enroll.
To date, about 40,000 voters overseas have enrolled for Internet voting.
It was explained that once they are enrolled, each voter will be given an account and password to log in and be able to vote.
“This Internet voting is a huge benefit, especially for our fellow seafarers since they no longer need to dock at a port to vote because even if they are on the ship, if they have a cellphone, laptop, iPad, they can vote,” Garcia explained.
He assured that the voters and their votes are protected.
“Is it protected? Yes, we guarantee it. It has passed all international certifications, all source code reviews, and at the same time, we have also installed all kinds of security,” Garcia said.
The poll body’s chief noted that 13 posts overseas will use automated counting machines (ACMs) because the host country does not allow Internet voting.
“Those 13 posts, they do not want to use their Internet voting, like China, Russia, etc., and therefore, we will bring the machines,” he said.
During the 2022 polls, only 40.59 percent of the 1.687 million registered overseas Filipino voters participated, but it was still the highest voter turnout in history.
Below are the countries and the time ROVs started voting in their respective areas:
• Australia at Guam (GMT+10): 6:00 AM, Pacific Standard Time (PST)
• Japan at Korea (GMT+9): 7:00 AM, April 13, 2025 PST
• Brunei, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Macau, Indonesia, Taiwan at Singapore (GMT+8): 8:00AM PST
• Thailand, Vietnam at Indonesia (GMT+7): 9:00AM, PST
• Bangladesh (GMT+6): 10:00 AM, PST
• India (GMT+5:30): 10:30 AM, PST
• Pakistan (GMT+5): 11:00 AM, PST
• United Arab Emirates at Oman (GMT+4): 12:00 PM, PST
• Greece, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Kenya at Israel (GMT+3): 1:00 PM PST
• Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Romania, Denmark, Italy, Norway, France, Czech Republic, Rome, Sweden, The Netherlands, The Vatican, Poland, Egypt, and South Africa (GMT+2): 2:00 PM
• Portugal, United Kingdom at Morocco (GMT+1): 3:00 PM, PST
• Brazil at Argentina (GMT-3): 7:00 PM, April 13, 2025
• United States of America (USA), Canada at Chile (GMT-4): 8:00 PM, PST
• USA (GMT-5): 9:00PM, PST
• Mexico (GMT-6): 10:00 PM, PST
• USA at Canada (GMT-7): 11:00 PM, PST
• USA (GMT-10): 2:00AM, PST
Voters overseas will elect national positions only – 12 senators and one party-list group.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Comelec opens voting period for overseas Filipinos”