Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is optimistic about increased participation as the month-long overseas voting commences on April 13. The initiative aims to engage more than 1.321 million registered Filipino voters abroad.

According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia expressed hope during a Saturday interview, stating, “I hope we can at least get 50 percent of the 1.321 million voters because we are introducing Internet voting.” Garcia highlighted that 77 out of 93 posts abroad would facilitate Internet voting, allowing Filipinos to cast their votes via mobile devices, tablets, and laptops.

Garcia encouraged unregistered voters to enroll at ov.comelec.gov.ph/enroll. Currently, around 40,000 overseas voters have registered for Internet voting. Enrolled voters receive an account and password to access the voting system.

Garcia emphasized the benefits of Internet voting for seafarers, noting that they could vote remotely without docking at a port. He assured voters about the security of the system, stating that it has passed international certifications and source code reviews, with robust security measures in place.

For the 13 posts where host countries, including China and Russia, prohibit Internet voting, Comelec will deploy automated counting machines (ACMs). Garcia explained, “Those 13 posts, they do not want to use their Internet voting, like China, Russia, etc., and therefore, we will bring the machines.”

In the 2022 elections, the overseas voter turnout was 40.59 percent of the 1.687 million registered voters, marking the highest participation rate in history. The current voting period will conclude on May 12, 2025, at 7 p.m. Philippine Standard Time, with overseas voters electing 12 senators and one party-list group.