May 12 polls voter turnout at ‘historic’ 82.20%

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

FILE: Rains did not hinder voters from casting their votes at the Dr. Jose Rizal Elementary School in Barangay Sto Niño II, Dasmarinas City, Cavite on Monday (May 12, 2025). (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – More than 57 million of the country’s close to 70 million registered voters participated in the May 12 midterm elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Friday.

In a press briefing, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said 57,350,968 or 82.20 percent out of the 69,673,653 registered participated on election day.

“This is historic and the Commission is glad that we were able to deliver, of course, with the help of other government agencies, citizens’ arm and other stakeholders,” Garcia said.

Garcia gave the Comelec an 85-percent grade for their performance, including their preparations for the midterm polls.

“At least 85 percent. We can say that our preparations have been good from the registration of voters, from the preparatory preparations for the election and after the election,” he said.

Garcia added that areas that need to be improved include the training of electoral board members, venue for online voting and the technology used.

“The technology needs to be improved.

The voting process must always be enhanced by technology. We cannot stick to old technology. The new ones are changing,” he said.

The Commission en banc, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, completed the canvassing of all 175 certificates of canvass, both local and overseas, on Thursday.

It is set to proclaim the 12 winning senators on Saturday and party-list groups on Monday.