Youth vote drives 81.65% turnout, record high for Midterm Elections – COMELEC

MANILA — In a live press conference on Thursday, Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin Garcia revealed that 81.65% voter turnout this elections is the highest in history of midterm polls in the country.

In numbers, a total of 55.87 million voters cast their ballots out of the record-high 68.43 million registered voters this year.

This is close to the record-high voter turnout in the 2022 presidential elections, where turnout rate reached 82.5%.

"Kabataan ang malaking factor ng mataas na voter turnout sa bansa. Base sa inisyal na pagtingin, dumagsa ang mga kabataan sa pagboto. 'Yung boses nila ay gusto nilang mapakinggan ng sambayanan... Ako, naniniwala ako na 'yung boto ng youth, matters talaga."  Garcia added.

(Youth vote is a really big factor for the turnout. In our initial assessment, the youth really turned out in droves. They really wanted their voice heard. I believe youth vote matters.) 

Garcia also credited the commission for the conduct of the elections and assured voters that "their vote will be counted".

Comelec expects to finish the canvassing of Certificates of Canvass on Thursday afternoon.

Garcia mentioned that it is possible for them to proclaim winning senators by Saturday and party-lists by Monday, which he noted would also be the fastest in Philippine history.