Comelec extends online voting enrollment period for 3 days

OVERSEAS VOTING. Officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) led by chairperson George Erwin Garcia (center) and the joint venture of SMS Global Technologies, Inc. (SMS) and Sequent Tech Inc. hold a press briefing at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila on June 25, 2024. The two institutions signed the contract for the Online Voting and Counting System that will be used by overseas voters in the May 2025 midterm polls. (PNA Screengrab via Comelec)

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has extended for three days the enrollment period for overseas Filipino voters who want to cast their votes in the May 2025 midterm elections via the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS).

In Minute Resolution No. 25-0544, the Comelec en banc said the deadline of enrollment for those who would like to vote online has been moved from its original date of May 7 to May 10.

“The Commission resolves to approve the request of the Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV)… to extend the pre-voting enrollment period from 07 May 2025 to 10 May 2025, 11:59 PM (Philippine time),” it said.

The poll body said this is to encourage more Filipino voters abroad to enroll in the system, noting the “multiple requests” for extension it received from various Filipino communities abroad.

As of May 3, the total number of OVCS pre-voting enrollees was at 134,474.

“Said number represents only 11.01% of the total registered overseas voters falling under OVCS Posts (1,220,942),” the Comelec said.

Interested parties are encouraged to visit the link https://ov.comelec.gov.ph/enroll to enroll.

The Comelec earlier said pre-voting enrollment is necessary to allow an overseas voter to cast his/her vote under the OVCS.

The enrollment period for the OVCS started on March 20, 2025.