Filipinos head to polling centers for 2025 midterm elections

Before daylight filled the dark skies of May 12, Filipinos kicked their Monday morning off by flocking to their respective polling centers for the 2025 midterm elections.

A few minutes before 4 a.m., public schools across Metro Manila have begun testing the automated counting machines for the polls. Clustered precincts have also attached posters of voters with their ID photos, such as in Malanday Elementary School in Marikina, according to ABS-CBN News.

Poll watchers have also started arriving in precincts, like in Las Piñas City National Science High School, to ensure smooth operations later on.

For a prison in Zamboanga, preparations were done since May 11, according to GMA News.

A voter was already in the venue a few minutes before that and received assistance from the voting staff, according to ABS-CBN News. Monoblock chairs were also placed at the covered court to serve as waiting areas just before crowds thicken in the coming hours.

Recognizing the needs of certain voters, the Commission on Elections said senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities may cast their votes as early as 5 a.m. Regular voting hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

On X, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia noted that it was the first time the country implemented such a scheme.

Garcia, who's overseeing the voting operations in Silang in Cavite, expressed delight about the success of the early voting hours.

"Natutuwa tayo dahil maraming nakinabang," he told ABS-CBN News, citing as an example a senior citizen who went to vote early as he's about to attend to his crops and dogs.

"Ito po 'yung gusto nating mangyari, 'yung 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., para maging maginhawa at mas mabilis. Hindi humahalo sa karamihan," he said, adding that the 7 a.m. are expected to see a surge in voters.

He noted that seniors, pregnant women, and PWDs may still cast their ballots during the regular voting hours.

Garcia noted that support staff will assist seniors in feeding the ballots to the ACM themselves, but if they cannot, the staff themselves may do it on their behalf.

A 77-year-old voter noted how he only spent five minutes on voting.

"Napakaganda," he told ABS-CBN News. "Ito ang the best. Ang tagal-tagal ko nang bumoboto, pero ngayon lang nakaengkuwento ng ganito kagandang botohan."

At Albert Elementary School in Manila, senior citizens in face masks started trooping to the gates before 5 a.m.

Nagpayong Elementary School in Pasig already had dozens of voters lining up outside the gates before the special voting hours, according to GMA News.

Gringo Honasan, who's running for senator, was among the high-profile senior citizen voters who went to cast his vote at 5 a.m., at the Nativity of Our Lady Parochial School in Marikina.

Honasan, 77, took to Facebook Live to show himself in the queue.

Reelectionist senator Lito Lapid also went to his polling center early in Porac, Pampanga. He also gave a short interview with media members outside the campus, reiterating his platforms should he be elected.

Meanwhile, to enhance accessibility, Garcia said 42 malls nationwide will serve as polling precincts, specifically catering to the 12 million registered senior citizens and 600,000 PWD voters.

SM City Manila was among the malls that hosted senior citizens and PWD voters, per The Philippine STAR.

Voters, especially first-timers, may check their precinct online via precinctfinder.comelec.gov.ph. By simply inputting their full name, date of birth, and place of registration, individuals could readily view their assigned polling place, precinct number, and voter status.

Comelec said there were over 68 million registered voters nationwide, higher than the 65.7 million in 2022.

Of this year's voting population, Calabarzon—Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon—accounts for the highest number at 9.7 million voters.

The National Capital Region, comprising 16 cities—Manila, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela, and Pateros—has 7.6 million voters.

In NCR, the cities with the highest number of voters are Quezon City with 1.4 million, and the capital, Manila, at 1.1 million.

Cordillera Administrative Region—composed of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province—has the lowest number of voters, at 1.1 million.

The country's vote-rich areas are led by Cebu, which has over three million voters. Cavite, Bulacan, Pangasinan, Laguna, and Negros Occidental have surpassed the two-million voter mark.

Those with at least one million voters each include Batangas, Pampanga, Rizal, Iloilo, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Leyte, Camarines Sur, and Isabela.

Aside from places with expected high voter turnout, Comelec and other relevant agencies are also looking into election hotspots or areas with a history of poll-related incidents and security concerns.

Election hotspots have four categories: green, for places that have no security concerns; yellow, for places with a history of election-related incidents; orange, for areas with the presence of serious armed threats; and red, for places that have serious armed threats and a history of election-related incidents.

Comelec identified 36 areas under the red category, and 30 of them are in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Some 156 areas are under the orange category, including towns and cities in Cagayan, Isabela, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Albay, Camarines Sur and Norte, Masbate, Iloilo, Leyte, Northern Samar, Sulu, Bukidnon, Caraga region, and BARMM areas.

About 194 areas are under the yellow category, while 1,256 areas are under the green category.

With a significant 18,320 national and local positions at stake in this election—including senator, party-list representative, congressman, governor, and mayor—it's crucial for every voter to be well-informed. To help ensure a smooth and responsible voting experience, here are some dos and don'ts you should keep in mind when voting.

As the force of disinformation continues to appear bigger than it is amid the election season, it's important to remember that we all have a significant role to play as individuals who consume and share social media content on a regular basis. PhilSTAR L!fe is inviting you to lead the fight and take responsibility with the launch of Facts Now, Feelings Later, which aims to combat disinformation by promoting cautious, mindful consumption and sharing of online information. Know more about our advocacy campaign here.