Comelec main office at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila (PNA file photo)
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is aiming for at least a 50% turnout among overseas Filipino voters as the month-long overseas voting begins on April 13.
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia expressed optimism that introducing Internet voting will help boost participation among the 1.321 million registered Filipino voters abroad.
“Hopefully, we can hit the 50 percent mark. We’re optimistic because we’re now offering Internet voting,” Garcia said in a media interview on Saturday.
Of the 93 foreign service posts, 77 will implement Internet voting, allowing Filipinos to vote using their mobile phones, tablets, or laptops. Voters can still register for Internet voting by visiting ov.comelec.gov.ph/enroll.
So far, around 40,000 overseas voters have enrolled for the new digital voting system. Once registered, voters will receive login credentials—an account name and password—to access the voting platform.
Garcia said the system will especially benefit Filipino seafarers, who can now cast their votes even while at sea, provided they have access to a gadget and an Internet connection.
“This is a major step forward. Seafarers no longer need to dock at ports just to vote,” he noted.
He assured the public of the platform’s safety and integrity. “Yes, it’s secure. It has passed international certifications, source code reviews, and all the necessary security protocols.”
Meanwhile, 13 posts—including in countries like China and Russia—will continue using automated counting machines (ACMs) due to restrictions on Internet voting in those territories.
In the 2022 elections, the overseas voter turnout was 40.59% out of 1.687 million registered voters—the highest recorded in history.
Overseas voting will run until 7:00 p.m. (Philippine time) on May 12, 2025. Filipinos abroad may vote only for national positions: 12 senators and one party-list group.