Comelec issues reminders ahead of Eleksyon 2025

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued reminders for voters ahead of the National and Local Elections (NLE) on Monday, May 12, 2025.

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia reminded local of the campaign ban for the 2025 national and local elections (NLE) which will take effect on May 11, eve of the Election Day.

He reiterated that a liquor ban will also be imposed nationwide on the eve of the elections.

“Pinapayuhan po natin yung mga kandidato na may pagkalalaking tarpaulin pa sa mga highway. Maganda po na pakitanggal na lahat 'yan,” said Garcia.

(We advise candidates to remove their massive posters on the highways.)

“Hindi po namin mapipigilan ang kahit na sinong magkakalaban na mag-file ng kaso laban sa inyo, sapagkat 'yung presensya ng mga tarpaulin, ng mga campaign materials na nasa mga kalsada ay simbolo pa rin ng pangangampanya, and therefore, dapat po 'yang ipatanggal,” he added.

(We cannot stop their rivals from filng cases becuse that may be considered as campaigning.)

Comelec Resolution No. 11086, which sets the rules and regulations for Republic Act No. 9006 or the Fair Elections Act, scheduled the campaign period for the national candidates on February 11 to May 10. The campaign period for local positions will run on March 28 until May 10, 2025.

However, candidates are not allowed to campaign on April 17 (Maundy Thursday), April 18 (Good Friday), May 11 (eve of Election Day), and May 12 (Election Day.)

Do's and dont's

Meanwhile, the Comelec reminded the voting public about the do’s and dont’s when casting ballots on May 12, 2025.

Early voting hours for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and pregnant women starts from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Regular voting hours will open to 7 a.m to 7 p.m.

What to do:

prepare voting cheat sheet (kodigo)

know voting precinct through the  voter’s information sheet or the Comelec’s online precinct finder

shade ballots properly

observe proper conduct and behavior inside the polling precinct

What not to do:

overvote

take selfies or pictures inside the precinct

take the voter's receipt, marking pen, or ballot secrecy folder out of the precinct

NLE by the numbers

A total of 18,320 seats are up for grabs in the upcoming national and local elections, based on the latest Comelec data. Of the figures, 12 seats are for senators, 63 are for party-list representatives, and 254 are for House members.

At the local level, 82 vacancies are for governors and vice-governors, 840 for Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, 149 for city mayors and vice-mayors, and 1,493 for municipal mayors and vice-mayors. Meanwhile, there are 1,690 seats for Sangguniang Panglungsod members and 11,948 for Sangguniang Bayan members.

There are 69,673,655 registered voters for the May elections, of whom 68,431,965 are in the Philippines while 1,241,690 are overseas. Overseas voters may cast their votes from April 13 to May 12, while local absentee voters may cast their votes from April 28 to 30, 2025. — BAP, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.