Comelec defends internet voting for OFWs amid SC petition

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday defended its decision to move forward with internet voting for overseas Filipinos in the 2025 midterm elections, emphasizing the need for more accessible and inclusive voting methods — particularly for Filipinos at sea.

In an interview with dzBB, Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia said the poll body welcomes a petition filed before the Supreme Court seeking to stop internet voting, but insisted the initiative has been in development for two years and is a response to real-world voting limitations.

“We welcome that petition to us,” Garcia said in Filipino. “We have been announcing and preparing for internet voting for two years... We are also ready to address the issue of legality.”

Garcia stressed that Comelec had to rethink voting strategies, especially for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), such as seafarers, who often miss out on elections due to the nature of their jobs.

“The Comelec needs to think of other ways to vote, especially for our fellow countrymen who are seafarers and cannot vote because they are at sea,” Garcia said. “That's where internet voting comes in. As long as it is secure, reliable, and the vote is protected — it can be done.”

In 2022, voter turnout among overseas Filipinos reached a historic high of 40.59 percent, with nearly 600,000 of 1.697 million registered voters abroad participating. But Garcia pointed out that the traditional methods — voting in person or by mail — are no longer sufficient.

“In previous elections, there were only two ways to vote for overseas voters— first, in person; second, by mail,” Garcia said, noting that 90 percent of those sent ballots did not return them to the consulate or embassy.

To address this, Comelec introduced online voting, starting with 77 overseas posts implementing the digital option. Sixteen other diplomatic posts will still use the traditional system of sending out voting machines and paper ballots.

Comelec earlier confirmed that preparations for internet voting will continue despite a petition filed Thursday by PDP-Laban, some senatorial candidates, OFWs, and registered overseas voters. The group asked the Supreme Court to nullify four Comelec resolutions —vincluding Resolution No. 11061 — that they claimed were unconstitutional and introduced a “new and unprecedented electoral process” without congressional legislation.

Garcia, however, clarified that internet voting was not arbitrarily imposed. “It was properly consulted with Congress, especially with the electoral reforms committee and during budget hearings,” he said. “There were no violent objections.”

He also noted that the initiative has been “warmly embraced” by overseas Filipinos and embassy personnel, who often serve as electoral boards during the voting period.

Pre-enrollment for overseas online voting is ongoing until 7 May, while the month-long voting period will begin on 13 April.