Halalan 2025: A guide to the Philippine midterm elections

The Philippines conducts synchronized congressional and local elections, excluding regional and barangay levels, every three years on the second Monday of May. This system has been in place since 1992.

Presidential and vice-presidential elections occur every six years in even-numbered years (e.g., 1992, 1998), while midterm elections — where the presidency is not contested — are held in odd-numbered years (e.g., 1995, 2001).

On 12 May 2025, millions of Filipinos will once again exercise their right to vote in the midterm elections, electing new leaders for national and local positions.

From 1 to 8 October 2024, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) accepted Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) and Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) for individuals aspiring to hold public office. A total of 18,280 elective positions will be contested in the upcoming elections:

• Senators: 12

• Party-List Representatives: 63

• Members, House of Representatives: 254

• Governors: 82

• Vice Governors: 82

• Provincial Board Members: 800

• City Mayors: 149

• City Vice Mayors: 149

• City Councilors: 1,690

• Municipal Mayors: 1,493

• Municipal Vice Mayors: 1,493

• Municipal Councilors: 11,948

• BARMM Members of Parliament: 25

• BARMM Party Representatives: 40

Final list of senatorial candidates

On 13 December 2024, Comelec finalized the list of 66 senatorial candidates who qualified for the 2025 elections. Out of 183 individuals who filed for the Senate race, 117 were declared nuisance candidates and were removed from the official ballot.

Who can you vote for?

In the 2025 midterm elections, approximately 68 million Filipino voters will elect officials for over 18,000 positions, including:

• 12 senators (half of the 24-member Senate)

• All members of the House of Representatives, including party-list representatives

• Local government officials such as governors, vice governors, mayors, vice mayors, and councilors

Voting guidelines

Each voter will be able to vote for:

• One (1) party-list organization to represent marginalized and underrepresented sectors in the House of Representatives.

• Up to twelve (12) senators. Voters may select fewer than twelve, but choosing more than twelve will invalidate their senatorial votes.

The party-list system ensures that marginalized sectors have legislative representation, while senatorial elections follow a staggered system, with half of the Senate being elected every three years.

Election calendar and key dates

• 12 January – 11 June 2025: Election period and gun ban

• 11 February – 10 May 2025: Campaign period for senators and party-list groups (except 17-18 April, Maundy Thursday & Good Friday)

• 28 March – 10 May 2025: Campaign period for House representatives, governors, mayors, and councilors (except 17-18 April, Maundy Thursday & Good Friday)

• 13 April – 12 May 2025: Voting period for overseas voters

• 28-30 April 2025: Voting period for local absentee voters

• 11 May 2025: Liquor ban and end of campaign period

• 12 May 2025: Election Day

• 11 June 2025: Last day to file Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE)