Philippines: Online enrollment for overseas voters extended until May 10: How to register

Manila: The Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec) has extended the enrollment period for overseas Filipino voters who wish to cast their ballots in the May 12, 2025 midterm elections via the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS).

The new deadline is now set for May 10, 2025, at 11:59 PM (Philippine time), three days beyond the original cutoff of May 7.

Appeal from OFWs

In Minute Resolution No. 25-0544, the Comelec en banc approved the extension following multiple appeals from Filipino communities abroad.

The move is part of the poll body's efforts to increase participation in online voting, which has seen relatively low enrollment numbers so far.

"The Commission resolves to approve the request of the Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV)... to extend the pre-voting enrollment period from 07 May 2025 to 10 May 2025, 11:59 PM (Philippine time)," the resolution stated.

As of May 3, only 134,474 voters have enrolled in the OVCS — just 11.01% of the total 1,220,942 registered overseas voters (ROVs) eligible to use the system.

Low turnout

This low turnout prompted the extension to give more time for interested voters to register.

Enrollment is mandatory for overseas Filipinos who wish to vote online in the 2025 elections.

The Comelec explained that without enrollment, registered overseas voters will be unable to access or use the OVCS platform during the election period.

The enrollment window for OVCS originally began on March 20, 2025, and was scheduled to end on May 7.

Deadline extended

With the deadline now extended, overseas voters still have a chance to complete the process by visiting the official enrollment portal: https://ov.comelec.gov.ph/enroll.

The Comelec has encouraged Filipinos abroad to take advantage of the convenience and accessibility of online voting to ensure their voices are heard in the upcoming national and local elections.

Overseas Filipinos began voting for 12 new senators and "Party List" representatives on Sunday (April 13) for the 2025 midterms.