Voter support boosted as internet voting debuts for overseas Filipinos

PCG-Sydney officer assists an overseas Filipino voter during the consular outreach mission in Tamworth, NSW.

Pa’no Ba?

View Podcast Series

Get the SBS Audio app

Other ways to listen

Apple Podcasts‎

Spotify‎

Download (5.38MB)‎

While internet voting promises convenience, many overseas Filipinos are still facing challenges, particularly seniors and dual citizens with outdated or missing documents. Here’s a guide on how to seek assistance if you're having trouble enrolling or casting your vote online.

Key Points

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in the Philippines hopes that more voters will participate through online voting in the 2025 elections, but numerous Filipinos abroad continue to struggle with the new system.
The Philippine Embassy and Consulate offices have established support mechanisms to assist voters encountering difficulties with the pre-enrollment and voting process.
The internet voting period runs from April 13, 2025, at 8:00 AM (AEST) to May 12, 2025, at 9:00 PM (AEST).

Pakinggan ang podcast

Consular support for PH voters.mp3 image

Nahihirapan sa online voting? Narito ang paraan sa paghingi ng tulong sa Konsulado ng Pilipinas

SBS Filipino

09/05/202507:06

The Philippine Consulate General office in Sydney is actively assisting overseas Filipino voters with internet voting registration ahead of the 2025 midterm elections. This marks the first implementation of online voting for Filipinos abroad, aiming to increase voter participation among the 1.231 million registered overseas voters—over 19,000 of whom are based in Australia.

While online voting promises to boost voter turnout, many Filipinos abroad are still facing challenges with the new system. Issues include difficulty navigating the online platform, particularly among seniors and dual citizens who lack valid Philippine passports, National IDs, or have outdated records.

To address these challenges, the Consulate is conducting manual verification by retrieving voters' information from the official database. Once verified, they can proceed with online voting, ensuring that no registered voter is left behind.

Consul General Charmaine Rowena Aviquivil of PCG-Sydney emphasised the importance of supporting overseas voters and encouraged them to take advantage of the new system to help shape the country's future.

We encourage everyone to make their voices heard and their presence felt by choosing worthy leaders for our country.
Consul General Charmaine Rowena Aviquivil