At Home sa Abroad: Why few overseas Filipinos voted in 2025 polls

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In this episode, Rappler speaks with a US-based Filipino voter and community leader to unpack the challenges in the new internet voting system

MANILA, Philippines – There were around 1 million registered overseas Filipinos who did not get to vote in the 2025 midterm elections.

The Commission on Elections overhauled its overseas voting system in a bid to increase turnout from the record-high 40% in 2022. For the first time, it implemented an internet voting system for overseas Filipinos. This system intended to make it easier to vote, especially for Filipinos who lived or worked far away from Philippine embassies and consulates.

But instead of more Filipinos coming out to vote, only 18.12% cast their votes via the internet voting system. This is just 221,000 out of the expected 1.22 million.

How did this happen?

In this episode of At Home sa Abroad: Stories of Overseas Filipinos, multimedia reporter Michelle Abad speaks to Ronnette Sanchez, education officer of Malaya Movement Seattle, who talks about her experience as a voter in the United States, while helping fellow Filipinos in her community navigate the challenges of the new system.

Watch the video on Rappler on Monday, May 26, 7 pm Manila time. – Rappler.com

At Home sa Abroad: Stories of Overseas Filipinos is Rappler’s one-stop video podcast for all things Filipino diaspora. 

Watch other At Home sa Abroad episodes:

• How this leadership program helped Fil-Ams connect with their roots
• Inside a migration reporter’s notebook
• Tales of Martial Law, People Power from migrant Filipinos
• The plight of overseas Filipino women
• Why do so many Filipinos go abroad to work?
• Filipino mom and daughter champion diversity in US
• Realities of Filipina marriage migration
• How this seafarer turned lawyer fights for OFWs at sea
• OFWs’ personal finance 101
• Making space as Filipina lawyers in the United States
• TOYM awardee Hyku Desesto on making her mark overseas
• Overseas marriage, an option for Pinoy LGBTQ+ couples
• Dealing with uncertainties of a 2nd Trump administration
• How will overseas Filipinos vote in 2025?