THIS YEAR’s polls recorded the highest voter turnout in the history of the Philippine midterm elections, with 81.65% of eligible voters casting their ballots, according to data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
An initial Comelec estimate released May 15 showed that 55.8 million of the 68.4 million eligible voters participated in the May 12 polls.
This figure surpassed the 75.9% recorded in the 2019 midterm elections and the 77.31% in 2013.
Females made up the majority of the electorate with 34.9 million voters, while male voters accounted for 33.5 million.
Millennials (aged 29 to 44) comprised the largest voting bloc with 23 million voters, followed by Generation Z (aged 18 to 28) with 18.3 million. Generation X (aged 45 to 59) and Baby Boomers (aged 60 and above) followed with 15.5 million and 11.5 million, respectively.
Local absentee voting posted a 90% turnout, with 51,991 out of more than 57,000 registered members of the media, police, and military casting their votes. The Comelec has yet to release the final turnout for the 1.24 million registered overseas Filipino voters.
A total of 37,528 voting centers and 438,500 precincts were used for the 2025 midterm polls.
For the first time, the Comelec introduced early voting precincts for pregnant women, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, allowing them to vote from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. Regular voting hours began at 7 a.m.
Comelec also deployed this year new automated counting machines (ACMs) leased from the South Korean firm Miru Systems, though this introduction encountered significant setbacks such as glitches and ballot rejections.
Voters flag voided ballots, issues with ACMs in 2025 midterm polls
A total of 18,320 elective positions were decided on during the May 12 polls, including 12 Senate seats, 63 partylist representatives, and 254 district representatives.
Overall, the highest general election turnout recorded in the Philippines was during the 2022 national elections, when 84.10% of eligible voters cast their ballots.
