President Marcos fed ballot twice before it was accepted by ACM

Follow our 2025 Election Live Updates here.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. votes at Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School, Batac City, Ilocos Norte on May 12, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Presidential Communications Office)

MANILA, Philippines — A minor glitch transpired when President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was casting his vote for the 2025 midterm elections early Monday.

This scene was shown in the state-owned People’s Television Network’s live broadcast.

The automated counting machine (ACM) at San Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School in Barangay Valdez, Batac City, Ilocos Norte, failed to immediately accept the president’s ballot.

The president, who arrived at the school at around 7 a.m., had to feed his ballot to the machine twice before it was accepted.

He is a registered voter of Barangay Lacub, Precinct 36-A.

He was accompanied by his mother, former first lady Imelda Marcos; his sister, Irene Araneta; and his son, Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos.

Later on, the family proceeded to the Marcos Museum.

Then, they headed to Calayab Elementary School in Laoag City, where other members of the family are registered as voters. /apl