Filipinos abroad start casting ballots for senators and party-list groups
LOS ANGELES – Overseas voting for the 2025 Philippine midterm elections officially began on Saturday, April 13, giving more than 1.8 million registered overseas Filipino voters the chance to participate in selecting national leaders who will shape the country’s legislative agenda.
Voting will run until May 12, in line with the guidelines set by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Department of Foreign Affairs – Overseas Voting Secretariat (DFA-OVS).
Filipinos abroad will vote for 12 senators and one party-list group, both of which will play roles in policymaking and representation in the Philippine Congress. The voting covers Philippine embassies, consulates, and field offices in over 90 locations worldwide.
In the United States, posts including those in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and Washington D.C. have started implementing overseas absentee voting through postal ballots, consistent with the system designated for many foreign service posts.
COMELEC has advised overseas voters to accomplish and return their mailed ballots as soon as possible to ensure they are received before the close of the voting period. Only ballots received by 6:00 p.m. (local time of the post) on May 12, 2025, will be counted.
The overseas absentee voting (OAV) system allows eligible Filipinos living or working abroad to vote without having to return to the Philippines. Voters must be listed on the official Certified List of Overseas Voters (CLOV) to be able to participate.
According to the DFA, voter turnout in past elections has varied, with the 2022 presidential elections recording a turnout of 39%. Efforts to increase participation this year include early mailing of ballots and community outreach by embassies and consulates.
For voters in the U.S. and elsewhere, the following are key reminders:
• Check your registration status via the COMELEC website or your nearest Philippine consulate.
• Follow the instructions carefully when filling out your ballot.
• Mail your completed ballot early to ensure it is received by the deadline.
The canvassing of overseas votes will begin after the closing of polls in the Philippines. These votes will be transmitted to the National Board of Canvassers in Manila and will form part of the official results of the 2025 national midterm elections.
For more information and updates, overseas Filipinos are encouraged to visit their local consulate’s website or official social media pages, as well as the COMELEC’s Office for Overseas Voting at www.comelec.gov.ph.
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