Introduction Of Philippine
No more queues at consulates as internet voting debuts for overseas Filipinos
The Philippines is set to make history with the launch of internet voting for the 2025 midterm elections, marking a major step forward in modernizing the voting process for overseas Filipinos.
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On Friday, the Philippine Consulate-General in Dubai completed the Final Lockdown and Sealing (FLS) of the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS) — a critical phase ensuring the equipment’s readiness ahead of the start of overseas voting on April 13.
This will be the first time internet voting is implemented, allowing Filipinos abroad to cast their ballots online — eliminating long queues at embassies and consulates.
Registered Filipino voters residing in the UAE must pre-enroll through the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) online portal before May 7 to be eligible to vote. They will elect 12 senators and one party-list representative during the 30-day voting period, which runs from April 13 to May 12, 2025. The official election day in the Philippines is May 12.
Online voting can be done on smartphones, tablets, laptops, or desktop computers that are equipped with a camera and have internet access. Voting is compatible with any standard web browser, providing flexibility and accessibility for overseas Filipinos.
Despite the new online option, in-person voting remains available at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate-General in Dubai for those encountering technical difficulties.
To participate, overseas Filipinos must be registered voters and listed under one of the 77 Philippine foreign posts authorized to facilitate online voting — including the missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The shift to internet voting is expected to significantly improve accessibility and turnout among the overseas Filipino community, offering a more efficient and convenient way to take part in the democratic process.
