Fil-Am

Filipino Americans can vote online in PH elections – but turnout still lags

Several Fil-Am seniors in Los Angeles express concerns about the seeming complexity of the process

By: Marisse G. Abelgas - @inquirerdotnet

INQUIRER.net US Bureau / 05:00 PM April 22, 2025

Deputy Congen Anlee Gamble turns over the laptop and election paraphernalia to Consul Maynard Maleon after the testing and sealing last April 11. Photo from
Philcongen LA website

LOS ANGELES — In a groundbreaking effort to improve accessibility and participation in Philippine elections, Filipino Americans will be able to cast their votes online for the first time in the upcoming May 2025 midterm elections.

This initiative, introduced by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), represents a significant step forward in enabling overseas Filipinos to exercise their right to vote from abroad.

Previously, registered Filipino voters overseas could only vote in-person at designated Philippine Consulates or Embassies or through mailed ballots.

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The Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS), launched by Comelec, allows eligible voters to participate securely through an online platform. The system enables voters to select 12 senators and one party-list organization using any internet-enabled device.

Overseas online voting: How to enroll and vote

To participate, registered overseas voters must first complete a pre-voting enrollment process between March 20 and May 7, 2025, via the official portal. The enrollment involves uploading a valid (Philippine) ID, a facial photo and a short video holding the ID for verification. The pre-voting enrollment link is accessible from anywhere except the Philippines, as the system blocks access from within the country.

The voting kiosk at the PCG Los Angeles conference room. Photo from Philcongen LA website

Security is a top priority for Comelec. According to the agency, the OVCS underwent rigorous evaluation by an international certifying body to “ensure robust safeguards against cyber threats and to preserve the integrity of the election.”

The Comelec also said the source code of the system was made available for review by citizen groups, political parties and other stakeholders, with no issues reported.

The voting period began on April 13 and will run until May 12, 2025 (Philippine Standard Time), offering overseas voters a full month to cast their ballots.

Challenges

A Filipino American voter in Washington, DC, who requested anonymity, shared his experience with the system. He first checked his name on the certified overseas voters list posted on the Philippine Embassy website, which took about 15 minutes. He found the enrollment process “straightforward but time-consuming” – another 15 minutes – requiring him to enter personal information, verify his identity via email and submit photos of his ID and face.

“The most challenging part was taking a clear photo of my passport using a PC camera. After several failed attempts, I switched to my mobile phone, which worked,” he said. After completing enrollment, he received a link to the voting site. “Due to a strict time limit, I was logged out multiple times while selecting candidates, which took another 15 minutes,” he added.

While the system worked for him, he noted that it could be difficult for less tech-savvy or older voters, especially those without easy access to digital devices. “I tried to review my ballot after casting my vote but I received an unreadable encrypted code, which was confusing,” he said.

Several Fil-Am seniors in Los Angeles expressed the same concerns about the seeming complexity of the process, saying they would rather sit out this election than subject themselves to what they perceive to be a “stressful” ordeal.

Fil-Am senior citizen Tess D.J. of Los Angeles said she hasn’t voted in the last two Philippine elections and doesn’t intend to vote this May. “It has always been too cumbersome and stressful to cast one’s ballot without even knowing what safeguards are in place to protect my vote,” she said.

Low turnout

Despite the historic launch of the OVCS, enrollment numbers remain relatively low. As of mid-April, only 55,000 overseas voters had enrolled for online voting out of the 1.241 million registered Filipino voters abroad. This mirrors concerns from previous elections: In 2022, only 600,000 out of 1.967 million of overseas voters participated.

Comelec Chair George Garcia acknowledged the low participation rate but remained optimistic. “The numbers are not where we want them to be yet, but we are hopeful,” he said. “Online voting is a game-changer. We urge all qualified overseas Filipinos, especially those in high-density areas like Los Angeles, to take advantage of this opportunity.”

To address the low turnout, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, one of 77 diplomatic posts in different countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea and European countries involved in the OVCS launch, is leading outreach efforts to raise awareness and assist with pre-enrollment. With the OVCS now in place, voters are advised that they will no longer be receiving paper ballots by mail.

The 30-day voting period at the Consulate General in LA began on April 13, 2025. The Consulate has converted its conference room into an Overseas Voting (OV) kiosk to assist registered members. The list of active registered voters is available on the Consulate’s website: losangelespcg.org.

Registered voters can visit the Consulate at 3435 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 550, Los Angeles, for assistance with pre-enrollment or to cast their vote at the kiosk, which is open every day during the voting period, including weekends and holidays.

According to Deputy Consul General Anlee Gamble, kiosk services staff will give priority to registered voters (based in Southern California, Southern Nevada and Arizona) who are senior citizens, persons with disabilities and pregnant women. Voters who are unable to go to the Consulate in person can email halalan2025lapcg@gmail.com for assistance.

“This is a monumental moment for our kababayans here,” said a Consulate representative. “We urge the Filipino American community to step up, enroll and make their voices heard.”

How to enroll and vote: