The Philippines’ Super Election Year: Insights into the 2025 National and Local Elections | Data Dive Issue No. 17
Overview
The Philippines is set to experience its own “super election year” in 2025, showcasing a robust commitment to democratic governance and local development through a series of significant elections.
On May 12, 2025, the Philippines will hold national and local elections. This will be followed by the historic Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary elections in October, and then the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSKE) elections in December—highlighting the country’s focus on inclusive governance, grassroots leadership, and youth participation.
These elections are also taking place amid persistent challenges, including vote-buying, vote-selling, abuse of state resources and political dynasties, but they also bring promising developments: new voting technologies, more inclusive and accessible voting processes, and the introduction of internet voting for overseas Filipinos.
This issue of Data-Dive unpacks key electoral statistics, reforms, and inclusion efforts that are shaping one of the most consequential electoral cycles in Philippine history.
Voter Demographics and Accessibility
As of January 23, 2025, the Philippines has over 68.4 million registered voters. Women make up 51% of the electorate, indicating strong female participation. Young voters (ages 18–25) comprise 19.35%, forming a key electoral bloc, while senior citizens (60+) account for over 11.47 million voters (16.76%). There are 491,417 registered persons with disabilities (0.71%), 69,795 persons deprived of liberty, and 951,870 registered Indigenous Peoples, underscoring the diversity of the electorate.
Ensuring Inclusive and Accessible Voting for Vulnerable Sectors
To ensure inclusive participation, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)—through its Vulnerable Sectors Office (VSO)—has implemented several targeted measures. These include the continuous implementation of Priority Polling Places (PPP) previously called as Emergency Accessible Polling Places (EAPP), Satellite Priority Polling Places (SPPP), and Accessible Polling Places (APP) for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant voters, ensuring they can vote with greater ease, safety, and dignity.
COMELEC also continues to implement the PDL-Special Polling Places (PDL-SPPs) within detention facilities to allow eligible persons deprived of liberty (detainees) to vote. Additionally, Accessible Voting Centers (AVCs) and Separate Polling Places (SPP) have been set up for Indigenous Peoples, located near or within their communities to overcome geographic and logistical barriers.
Overseas Voting for the 2025 Philippine Elections
Overseas voting for the 2025 Philippine elections began on April 13 and will run until 7:00 PM (PST) on May 12, aligning with the close of polls in the Philippines.1 For the first time, internet voting has been introduced and will be implemented in 77 overseas polling posts, while 16 posts will conduct in-person voting at embassies or consulates.2
Voting began in New Zealand, followed by staggered openings across different time zones. As of May 3, a total of 134,474 overseas voters had enrolled for pre-voting under the Overseas Voting and Counting System (OVCS), out of more than 1.2 million registered voters.3 The introduction of internet voting marks a significant step toward improving accessibility and participation for Filipinos abroad.
Conclusion
As the Philippines embarks on its “super election year,” the scale and complexity of the 2025 electoral cycle reflect both the country’s democratic maturity and the ongoing challenges it must confront. From advancing electoral technologies and expanding voter accessibility to addressing structural inequalities and safeguarding integrity, these elections are a critical test for Philippine democracy. With millions of voters participating across diverse sectors—including youth, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, and Filipinos abroad—the 2025 elections offer a pivotal opportunity to deepen inclusive governance and strengthen public trust in the democratic process.
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) has deployed an International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) for the 12 May 2025 National and Local Elections in the Philippines. The election observation mission aims to impartially and independently evaluate the credibility, inclusivity, and integrity of the 2025 Philippine elections, from the campaign period to post-election developments. It will assess the implementation of Automated Counting Machines (ACMs), internet voting, the Random Manual Audit, monitor electoral inclusivity, and address key challenges such as electoral violence, disinformation, and the misuse of state resources. A key focus is ensuring that electoral processes are accessible and inclusive, particularly for vulnerable sectors and marginalized groups. Another critical aspect of the mission is evaluating public confidence in the electoral process, ensuring that technological advancements enhance transparency and accessibility while systemic issues do not undermine the credibility of the results.
The mission will provide evidence-based recommendations to strengthen electoral policies, enhance voter inclusion, and support democratic reforms, particularly in preparation for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections in October 2025 and the 2028 national elections.
ANFREL will release its Interim Report through a press conference in Manila on 16 May 2025, presenting an early assessment of the electoral process. A Final Comprehensive Report will be published in July 2025, offering a full analysis of the elections along with evidence-based recommendations to strengthen democratic practices and advance electoral reforms in the Philippines. ###