Filipinos residing abroad are reminded that they have only nine days left to cast their votes in the 2025 midterm elections, as overseas internet voting officially ends on May 12, 2025.
This marks a historic first for Philippine democracy, with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) introducing internet voting through its Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS), making it easier and more accessible for Filipinos overseas to participate in the electoral process.
Voting officially began on April 13, 2025, and will conclude on May 12, 2025, in accordance with Philippine Standard Time. The platform is accessible to qualified overseas voters who have successfully completed pre-enrollment via the COMELEC portal.
To vote, overseas Filipinos must:
- Be a registered overseas voter with active status as of September 30, 2024.
- Check if your name is on the Certified List of Overseas Voters (Dubai: tinyurl.com/CLOVDubai, Abu Dhabi: http://tinyurl.com/CLOVAbuDhabi)
- Have completed pre-enrollment through https://ov.comelec.gov.ph/enroll.
- Log in and vote via https://ov.comelec.gov.ph/vote before the May 12 deadline.
As of mid-April, only around 48,000 of the estimated 1.2 million registered overseas voters had pre-enrolled to use the online system, raising concerns over low participation. COMELEC has since ramped up efforts to encourage eligible voters to act quickly and not wait until the last minute.
The internet voting system is now operational in 77 out of 90 Philippine foreign service posts, while the remaining 13 posts continue to use traditional methods, such as automated counting machines (ACMs), due to logistical constraints.
COMELEC has also ensured several security protocols are in place, including:
- Digital Voter IDs to verify the identity of online voters.
- Secure voting portals with audit trails to ensure transparency and data integrity.
- Continuous monitoring in partnership with Philippine embassies and consulates.
For more information and assistance, visit https://info-ov.comelec.gov.ph or contact the nearest Philippine embassy or consulate.
