Voter turnout in MisOr in 2025 polls dropped to 51% —NAMFREL

An election watchdog on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, said the voter turnout in Misamis Oriental saw a significant decline during the May 12, 2025 midterm elections.

According to the National Citizen’s Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL)- Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental Chapter, the voter turnout in the province dropped to 51 percent, a steep fall from the 86.8 percent recorded in the 2022 elections.

NAMFREL said this is a stark contrast to Cagayan de Oro City, which maintained relatively stable turnout levels – 72 percent in 2025, slightly up from 71.7 percent in 2022, and close to the 78.5 percent logged in 2019 polls.

The poll watchdog added that the decline in the voter turnout in Misamis Oriental is particularly “striking,” compared to the 78.7% turnout in the 2019 midterm elections, signaling growing concerns over electoral engagement across the province.

Based on data gathered by GMA Integrated News Research, Misamis Oriental has 1,106,297 registered voters, making it the 18th vote-rich province nationwide.

In Mindanao, it is the province with the third most number of registered voters, after Davao del Sur and Zamboanga del Sur. They are the only three provinces with at least 1 million registered voters for 2025.

NAMFREL CDO-Misamis Oriental cited several possible factors behind the drop, including voter fatigue and political disillusionment, which often arise when voters feel elections no longer lead to meaningful change.

Outmigration and voter displacement were also identified as key contributors, as many registered voters may have relocated for work, study, or family reasons and were unable to return home to cast their votes.

Additional challenges, such as logistical and accessibility issues, security concerns, and limited voter education on new electoral processes, may have further discouraged participation in some areas.

“This dramatic shift calls for thoughtful examination. A comprehensive post-election assessment involving COMELEC, civil society organizations like NAMFREL, and academic institutions will be crucial,” NAMFREL-CDO-Misamis Oriental said.

“Understanding the root causes of voter disengagement is key to restoring confidence in the electoral process and ensuring stronger turnout in future elections,” it added. —GMA Regional TV

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