COMELEC eyes higher overseas voter turnout in 2025 elections

by Edg Adrian A. Eva, Reporter

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Friday that it is aiming for a higher overseas voter turnout in the 2025 elections, with the pilot implementation of online voting starting April 13.

In a speech during an election forum led by the Philippine Press Institute, COMELEC Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said the poll body aims to achieve at least a 50% voter turnout from the more than 1.2 million overseas voters in the upcoming midterm election.

To promote voter participation, Mr. Garcia said that the COMELEC, authorized by Republic Act No. 10590, which amended the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003, is mandated to explore new voting systems, such as online voting.

Overseas voters will need to undergo the pre-voting enrollment process before being able to cast their votes from April 13 to May 12.

Mr. Garcia said that the new voting method is a viable option for overseas voters who may lack access to Philippine embassies and consulates, especially the more than 300,000 Filipino seafarers.

“Kasi kailangan pa nila dumaan sa isang pier, hahanapin pa ang embahada, konsulada para lang sila makaboto [You see, they still need to go through a pier, then look for the embassy or consulate just so they can vote],” Mr. Garcia said.

“Nobody should be left behind; everybody should be allowed to vote,” he added.

Ms. Garcia said this also aims to supplement overseas absentee voting by mail, which has unfortunately seen a non-turnout rate of around 90%.

“Sana kahit midterm election at least boboto ka gamit lang ang cellphone, laptop mo, o kaya ipad, palagay ko naman po kahit nasa bahay o nagtatrabaho makakaboto ka [I hope that even for midterm elections, you can vote using just your cellphone, laptop, or even an iPad. I believe that whether you’re at home or working, you’ll still be able to vote],” Mr. Garcia said.

As of Friday, Mr. Garcia said the COMELEC has recorded more than 40,000 voters who have undergone the pre-voting enrollment process for internet voting.

The commission is optimistic that this number will increase as the month-long voting period progresses.