The 2025 midterm elections matter more than you think
The next election cycle is coming on May 12, and it will set the stage for the remainder of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s term of office.
When we mention elections, presidential races often come to mind. Midterms, which occur in the middle of the incumbent president’s term, often result in lower voter turnouts compared to those of presidential polls that happen every six years.
“People are more excited when it’s a presidential race because of the personalities and discourses involved,” Jean Franco—an associate professor at UP Diliman's Department of Political Science—explained to PhilSTAR L!fe.
According to the political analyst, some voters believe the midterm polls will not impact the country’s situation that much. “A presidential election signals a perceived bigger change because it means a new president will be elected,” she said.
But the midterm polls are much more important than you think.
There are over 18,000 positions up for grabs. Here’s why every seat here carries weight: Congress, which consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives, will file bills and resolutions, and come up with policies focused on the welfare of all. An impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte remains pending, and the newly elected senators will serve as the judges and decide her political fate. They will deliberate on whether she indeed committed an impeachable offense and should be removed from her role and be barred from holding any elective office in the future.
Meanwhile, the local officials—from governors and city mayors to councilors—take charge of their respective areas and dictate the quality of life there. "They determine whether we will have peace and order in our communities, whether we will have a clean environment, whether our garbage is collected frequently and more efficiently,” Franco said.
The long and short of it: It matters who will emerge victorious in their bid for a position in the 2025 elections as they will have a direct hand in what to do next with the things that are happening in the very places we live in.
In 2022, the Philippines logged the highest voter turnout in our automated election history at 83%—or 55,549,791 out of 65,745,512 of the voting public. It came after the 2016 presidential elections recorded a historic turnout at 81.95%—the highest since 1986 at the time. But in the midterm elections that preceded them, the numbers were quite lower: In 2013, voter turnout was at 77.31%, and in 2019, 75.90%.
I hope we, again, make history in the next general polls.
There are more than 68 million registered voters as of January 2025—it makes sense to feel small and insignificant in this sea of people. But remember this: By voting, you speak for those who cannot speak for themselves and you become part of something bigger—along with millions of Filipinos who have the same values, beliefs, concerns, and even dreams as you. Choosing otherwise is like letting someone take your power and being completely fine with not only who will take the lead but also how they will direct the everyday life in your communities. Be honest, though: Should you be?
A Social Weather Stations survey released early this year showed that majority of Filipinos (53%) will vote for a candidate who will prioritize giving Duterte a fair trial at the Senate. Still, however, it’s not among their main considerations when casting their votes. Their top concerns include agriculture, health care, employment, and education. Just in April, another SWS survey showed that majority (55%) of Pinoy families consider themselves poor.
Sure, fixing problems with the system is not a walk in the park. But if a registered voter opts not to sit out the upcoming elections, there could be a difference, a step in the right direction.
With millennials and Gen Z filling a huge chunk of the voting population, the future is looking rosy. Young people are known for their support for a progressive movement as well as their shared views on different issues. They are able to express their thoughts on social media in ways that spark meaningful conversations, providing an opportunity to change the political landscape for the better. It’s good that they are leading the way.
Sociologist Edmund de Schweinitz Brunner described democracy as "something you must always be working at, a process never finished, never ending." In order for it to keep progressing, you have to take action and remember that your vote is your voice—and it will only remain powerful if you actually use it.
The elections, after all, are dictated by those who will get up and show up at their voting precincts on May 12. If you want more for the Philippines, it's a chance for you to demand more from those who will be elected. Keep that in mind, and vote wisely.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinions of PhilSTAR L!fe, its parent company, and its affiliates.
