2025 elections: Polls close
Follow Philippine election results and other updates.
ELECTIONS composite image from Inquirer file/stock photos
MANILA, Philippines — The voting period for the 2025 midterm elections has ceased in many areas across the country as polling precincts closed after 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 12.
However, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Garcia said in a press briefing that they expect some areas to have extended voting hours, particularly areas in Mindanao like Datu Odin Sinsuat as voting was delayed due to poll rivals blocking the transport of election materials.
READ: Maguindanao town voting held as rivals block poll materials transport
Despite this and some other issues, Garcia said the Comelec has not declared any failure of elections.
Voting hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and pregnant women being allowed to vote earlier, starting at 5:00 a.m.
Garcia also said voters who are lining up within the 30-meter vicinity of polling precincts would be allowed to vote even after 7:00 p.m.
Several issues were reported in the first eight hours of voting. Earlier, netizens complained about automated counting machines (ACMs) not accepting shaded ballots, or ballots used by individuals who have cast their votes.
Even Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidate and former senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he experienced a minor glitch when he cast his vote in Imus, Cavite.
Lacson said his ballot was not immediately accepted by the ACM.
The Comelec is currently using new machines, after the poll body and South Korean firm Miru Systems Co. Ltd. (Miru Systems) inked an almost P18-billion contract for the lease of an automated election system (AES).
The contract, however, was placed under scrutiny, as Comelec was questioned why it was spending more funds when the Philippine government already had existing vote counting machines (VCMs) from Smartmatic, the previous AES provider.
Comelec has opted not to reuse Smartmatic’s VCMs due to several issues in past elections, like the 2,000 VCMs bogged down during the 2022 presidential poll.
