Pinoys cast vote, gears up for change

Millions of Filipinos are set to cast their votes in the 2025 midterm elections on Monday, electing new leaders for national and local positions in the hopes of turning their lives for the better with improved changes.

With over 18,000 positions on the ballot, including 12 senators, congressmen, governors, mayors, and party-list representatives, voters are urged to be prepared for Election Day.  

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has provided guidelines to ensure a smooth voting process.

Voters are advised to research candidates beforehand to avoid delays at polling stations, which are expected to be crowded.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with early voting hours from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. designated for senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities.

Voters must bring a valid ID or their Comelec-issued Voter’s Information Sheet. First-time voters should bring their Voter’s ID. Campaigning within 30 meters of polling places and photographing ballots or receipts is prohibited.

Upon arrival, voters will proceed to the Electoral Board for identity verification against the Election Day Computerized Voters List.

After signing the list, voters will receive a blank ballot, a secrecy folder, and a pen to vote privately.

Voters must mark their choices carefully, staying within the allowed number of selections per position. For example, voters can select up to 12 senators.

Completed ballots are then fed into automated counting machines (ACMs). The machine will display selections for 20 seconds for confirmation before printing a receipt.  

The receipt must be placed in a designated box, and the secrecy folder and pen returned to election officials.

Voters will have their fingernails marked with indelible ink and voters who make a mistake before feeding the ballot into the ACM can request a new one; once scanned, the vote is final.

While voters are encouraged to fill out all positions, they can leave some blank.

Election officials urge voters to avoid rushing the process, emphasizing the importance of informed choices.

Approximately 68.43 million registered voters are expected to participate.  

The new automated counting machines may introduce slight procedural changes for previous voters, but Comelec assures the system is efficient and secure.

Key dates include the overseas voting period, which ran from 13 April to 12 May and the 11 June deadline for candidates to file their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures.