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Overseas Filipinos enroll in online voting system for May 2025 elections
NEW YORK - The first Filipino overseas voters have been entered into the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) system for the first-ever internet voting, which will be used in the upcoming midterm elections on May 12.
Michael Ferer, a permanent resident of Canada, personally visited the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa to enroll using the kiosk for online voting.
Although voters may use their mobile phones or laptops, embassies and consulates in 77 posts around the world still installed kiosks to assist pregnant women, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens who may not be familiar with using the internet.
According to COMELEC spokesperson Director John Rex Laudiangco, there are over 1.6 million registered overseas voters, but only 36 percent—or just over 600,000—actually voted in the previous election.
The poll body said it is aiming for an 85 percent voter turnout through the new online voting system, which is expected to benefit overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) like seafarers who frequently move from place to place due to work.
“With this initiative, we hope to increase participation from those who are often at a disadvantage—like seafarers and mariners. Most of them are registered voters because they need to be registered to apply for a seaman’s book," Laudiangco said.
"Unfortunately, Philippine elections fall in May, which is peak shipping season. So even if they’re registered, many of them can’t vote—or if they’re in far-flung areas, they can’t reach the designated post where they’re supposed to vote. But now, as long as they’re enrolled and have internet access (which is often available even on ships), they can vote,” Laudiangco explained during their visit to New York.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Consulate in New York is expanding its information dissemination campaign to encourage registered voters to enroll and exercise their right to vote.
According to New York Consul General Senen Mangalile, they will be visiting states along the East Coast under the consulate’s jurisdiction.
Mangalile reminded the public that registered overseas voters cannot enroll from within the Philippines:
“Enrollment is geo-locked, meaning you can only enroll if you are outside the Philippines. However, once enrolled, you can vote from anywhere in the world within the one-month voting period, which runs from April 13 to May 12. Our final reminder to our fellow Filipinos: Please don’t wait until May 12 to vote, because by the time you wake up, the voting period might already be over. We are giving a full month to exercise our right to suffrage,” he said.
The Philippine Consulate in New York has set April 11 as the final day for the lockdown and sealing of the election materials.
Online voting will officially begin on April 13 and will continue until 7 p.m. Philippine time on May 12.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
