Comelec begins official senatorial vote tally

On Tuesday, May 13, 2025, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) convened as the National Board of Canvassers to begin counting votes for senatorial candidates and party-list groups.

The Comelec automatically publishes certificates of canvass (COCs) from independent cities, provinces, and overseas absentee voting posts on its election website; however, these are officially tabulated only after being reviewed by the NBOC.

Representatives from the senatorial candidates and party-list groups were present to witness the process as COCs at municipal and component city levels are transmitted to provincial boards of canvassers (PBOCs), which collate results for transmission to the NBOC.

Lawyers representing candidates may raise pre-proclamation controversies during this process to challenge irregularities in the canvassing of votes.

The official canvassing follows a ladderized manner, with municipal and component city COCs transmitted to PBOCs before being sent to the NBOC, which aims to declare all 12 winning senators by Saturday, May 17.