The 2025 national and local elections will have a new way of voting for overseas Filipinos, as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) approved internet voting for them.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said that this new mode of voting aims to increase the overseas voter turnout, which was only at 39% during the previous election.
Garcia believes that spending P411 million for a low turnout is not cost-effective and that another mode is needed to encourage more overseas Filipinos to vote.
“Spending P411 million resulting to a dismal 39 percent turnout (although highest in history) is not value for money so to speak. Why are not so many overseas Filipinos voting personally by (the present mode of voting for them)? Maybe they need another mode,” he said.
The approval of electronic/internet voting for overseas Filipino voters was based on several sections of Republic Act No. 9189 and RA 10390, and the Comelec is now working on a roadmap to prepare for the new voting method.
