Members of the press turn up to cast their votes at the Comelec Local Absentee voting site at the Comelec Office in San Juan City on April 28, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — On May 12, 2025, some 68.43 million Filipinos are expected to cast their votes to elect a new set of national and local leader.

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According to ABS-CBN Research and Verification Unit, about 4.3 million Filipinos will be voting for the first time in the national elections in May 2025.

BEFORE VOTING DAY

Before the election day on Monday, make sure to finalize the names of those you intend to vote for.

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Prepare a list of the following:

National

• 12 senators (you can choose less than 12 but you are not allowed to over-vote)

• 1 party-list

Local

• 1 district representative/House lawmaker

• 1 governor

• 1 vice governor

• Provincial board members (number depends on province classification)

• 1 mayor

• 1 vice mayor

• Councilors (number depends on your city or municipality)

Watch ABS-CBN News' one-on-one interviews with most of the senatorial candidates here to help you build your list of candidates.

LOCATE YOUR POLLING CENTER

Prior to election day, every voter must receive from Comelec a Voter's Information Sheet (VIS), which contains their precinct number, voting center, a step-by-step process on how to vote, as well a sample ballot with the names of the candidates. 

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Ideally, the Comelec must distribute the VIS weeks before the election day.

You may also check Comelec’s Precinct Finder, which allows voters to check their specific polling place. To access your data, you must input your full name, date of birth, and the area where you are registered.

ELECTION DAY

Regular voting hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

But pregnant women, PWD, senior citizens, including their assistor if they are a registered voter in the same polling place, may vote as early as 5 a.m.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) listed 8 steps once you are already in your polling place:

STEP 1: Approach the electoral board (EB) and state your name, precinct number, and sequence number. 

STEP 2: The EB will check if your name is in the Election Day Computerized Voters Lost (EDCVL) and if your fingernail has an indelible ink. 

STEP 3: If your name is in the EDCVL and you have no mark of indelible ink, the EB will verify your identity and will ask you to sign the EDCVL. 

STEP 4: The EB chairperson will show you that your ballot is clean and in good condition. He/she will place the ballot in the ballot secrecy folder, and hand it to you along with the marking pen. 

STEP 5: Go to the voting area and vote by fully shading the circle before the name of the candidate. Remember: Do not to overvote.

STEP 6: After shading, feed your ballot to the ACM and wait for the receipt to be printed. Check the ballot image being flashed on the ACM screen.

STEP 7: Review your voting receipt and drop it at the designated box. Return the folder and marking pen. 

STEP 8: Have indelible ink applied to the forefinger of your right hand and leave the polling place. 

'DON'T WASTE YOUR VOTE'

Comelec chairman George Garcia on Wednesday reminded Filipinos that voting is a powerful act that can change the country for the good.

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"May pag-asa ang ating bayan sa pamamagitan ng ating balota. Bumoto nang may layunin, para sa kinabukasan, para sa ating kababayan," he said.

Garcia asked voters to select leaders they believe will work on improving the lives of their families and other Filipinos.

"Sa bawat pagboto nyo, isipin nyo para sa mga bata ito, sa mga anak at apo ko, para sa sarili ko. Yan po ang bigat ng boto ng bawat isa," he said.

"Mababalewala ba yan o gagamitin mo ang balota mo sa pagbabago?" he added.

For more news and features on Philippine elections, visit the ABS-CBN News' Halalan 2025 page.

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