Comelec aims to implement full-blown internet voting for overseas Filipinos in 2025 polls

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday said it targets a full-blown implementation of internet voting for overseas Filipinos in the 2025 midterm polls.

“Matatag na po ang loob ng Comelec na hindi na tayo magpa-pilot dito, i-implement na po natin dito sa overseas voting,” Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco said, adding this technology is already being used across the world.

[Translation: Comelec is firm we won’t be pilot testing this, we will implement this in overseas voting.]

The poll body official said seafarers are those who will benefit the most from the implementation of online voting.

Comelec aims to implement online voting in all countries that will permit them to do so. Laudiangco cited cases in some countries like Israel that do not allow internet voting due to security concerns.

The poll body hopes the implementation of online voting in the upcoming elections will encourage overseas Filipinos to vote. Laudiangco said these voters get discouraged when they are unable to cast their vote despite the month-long period.

“Ang in-expect namin dito ay magamit yung kanilang mga cellphones, tablets, laptop, personal computers, o anumang gadget na nakakonekta sa internet,” he said.

[Translation: We expect we'll use their cellphones, tablets, laptop, personal computers, or any gadget that can be connected to the internet.]

In the 2022 elections, the Comelec said there was a total of 1,697,215 million registered voters for overseas voting. Of that number, only about 688,961 or 40.59% actually cast their vote.

Laudiangco also noted that the online voting system must ensure authenticity of voters, confidentiality of vote, accuracy of count, compatibility to the canvassing system, among others.

The Comelec Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) held on Thursday the pre-bid conference for the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS) project worth ₱465.8 million.

SBAC Chairperson Allen Abaya revealed only one company, SMS Global Technologies, Inc. purchased bidding documents.

Interested companies can purchase the documents anytime until before the deadline for submission of bids on February 8 at 9 a.m.

The opening of bids will take place on the same day at 10:30 a.m. at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila.