Philippine midterm elections: How to enroll and vote online for Filipino overseas voters in the UAE

Dubai: Voting for overseas Filipinos in the Philippines’ 2025 midterm elections began on Sunday, April 13, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Comelec noted that 1.321 million overseas Filipinos are eligible to vote in this year’s midterm elections. But as of Friday, April 11, only 48,000 have so far enrolled in the online voting and counting system.

Voters must select 12 senators and one party-list group within a three-minute window when casting their online ballot, making it crucial to prepare a list in advance. If the process isn’t completed in time, the Comelec app will automatically disconnect, forcing voters to restart the entire procedure.

To participate, you must be pre-enrolled as an online voter. Pre-enrollment for online voting through the COMELEC Voting Portal is open until 7 May 2025.

Step-by-step guide on how to enroll and vote online for FIlipino overseas voters:

1. Fill out the enrollment form https://ov.comelec.gov.ph/enroll

2. You should receive a one-time password (OTP) on your email or SMS

3. Enter the (OTP) that you received via email or SMS

4. Capture a clear image of the bio page of your passport

5. The system will capture the photo of the overseas voter

6. Verify your information scanned by the system

7. You are now enrolled and can log in to the voting portal

8. Login using the email/number you have provided

9. You should receive a one-time password (OTP) on your email or SMS

10. Click or tap the 'click to vote' button

11. Read the instructions, click the 'start voting' button

12. Select the candidates you want to vote for

13. You may review your ballot. To cast your vote, click or tap on the 'cast your ballot button'

14. Congratulations! your vote has been cast

The overseas voting period will run until 7pm on May 12, aligning with the closing time of voting in the Philippines.

Be heard. Be counted. Your vote can make the difference.