Record 68.43M Filipinos vote in 2025 polls

A record-high 68.43 million Filipinos are eligible to vote in the 2025 national and local elections, with voting centers opening at 7 a.m. on Monday, May 12.

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. cast his vote alongside his family at Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, at around 7 a.m.

The midterm elections are seen by analysts as a referendum on President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.'s administration amid its feud with the Duterte clan and their looming battle for power in 2028.

At stake in today's elections are 12 Senate seats contested by 66 candidates, with earlier pre-election surveys showing a possible tight race between administration-backed candidates and those allied with the Duterte family.

At least 63 party-list seats are also being contested by 156 party-lists.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Garcia urged voters to choose wisely and vote with pride and dignity.

Filipinos abroad have an additional 1.24 million registered voters.

During the midterm elections, Filipinos vote for senators, party-list representatives, and local officials, with over 18,000 national and local posts contested.

New technology from South Korean firm Miru Systems is being used for the first time in the Philippines' polls.

Filipinos abroad have faced challenges with the overseas voting system, including low awareness and distrust.