Comelec records dismal internet voting turnout at 19%

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The almost record-low turnout coincides with the new internet voting system, which was implemented precisely to boost turnout

MANILA, Philippines – Having caught itself in an ironic situation, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday, May 16, recorded a dismal turnout for internet voting in the 2025 midterm elections at 19%, despite making an overhaul to the system meant to boost turnout for Filipinos abroad.

The turnout translates to around 232,000 overseas Filipinos who voted out of the expected 1.22 million.

There were also around 21,000 Filipinos overseas covered by consular posts that conducted the old modes of voting — by personally voting at the embassies and consulates, or receiving ballots in the mail and sending them back. Turnout in these modes was slightly higher at 32.43%.

The Comelec has yet to release a final and official turnout for overall overseas voting.

The low turnout coincides with the first time the Comelec implemented internet voting. Veering away from the traditional modes, most of the 1.24 million Filipinos registered abroad were expected to use the online voting system to cast their votes.

Voters who pre-enrolled in the online system, which is a requirement to participate, was also just at around 240,000 out of 1.22 million voters in areas implementing internet voting.

The turnout still did better than in some previous elections, such as 2013, which had a record-low 16.11%. The Comelec failed to sustain momentum from the highest turnout recorded in 2022, at around 40%, although midterm polls usually record smaller turnouts than presidential elections.

The Comelec intended for the system to be easier to use, since overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) would be able to vote from home or their workplace as long as they had a gadget that had a camera and could connect to the internet.

But reality unfolded differently on the ground, as many Filipino organizations reported that members of their communities were not aware of the major changes to the way they would participate in the elections.

A total of 77 posts, or embassies and consulates, implemented the new system. The remaining 16 stuck to the old modes, as host countries like China and Russia did not approve the use of their local internet services for the conduct of the Philippine elections.

Challenges

Overseas groups had long feared that the apparent lack of information campaigns would lead to severe disenfranchisement among migrant Filipinos, especially the elderly or those not tech-savvy.

Even for Filipinos who are relatively used to technology, such as the tens of thousands of voters in high-tech Singapore, technical issues still hounded their experience, leading some of them to seek help at the embassy.

Filipinos across political affiliations also worried over the lack of a receipt that came after voting. Many particularly raised concerns over the confusing ballot code that came out after casting a vote instead of a straightforward voter’s receipt.

The Comelec had to significantly boost its efforts to challenge claims that sowed distrust in the system, and explain how it was designed to ensure ballot security and prevent vote buying. – Rappler.com