ELECTION DAY IS upon us. For many, it stirs a mix of both excitement and anxiety in exercising our right to suffrage. Amid the fervor, however, staying clear-headed is crucial to making informed and thoughtful choices—given the state of the country right now.
To help voters stay cool-headed in the heat of the moment, The Bedan has compiled official Commission on Elections (COMELEC) resources, helpful online links and step-by-step voting guidelines to ensure a smooth and responsible voting experience.
Setting the record straight
Before anything else, during the 2025 Philippine Midterm Elections, registered voters are to elect 12 senators, one member of the House of Representatives, one provincial governor, one provincial vice-governor, one member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, one mayor, one vice mayor, one member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, and one party list.
To reiterate, only registered voters can vote this election day. To verify your status, consider checking COMELEC’s precinct finder website here
On election day, regular voting hours will be from 7AM to 7PM while early voting hours will start 5AM to 7AM. To avoid delays and ensure a smooth voting experience, it is wise to plan ahead. As such, registered voters can utilize COMELEC’s precinct finder to verify their precinct number and/or confirm their registration status.
Registered voters may access the link here, and make sure to give them the consent to process your personal information “pursuant to its mandate in relation to voter registration.” Afterward, voters should fill in the necessary details including their full name and place of registration.
By now, The Bedan hopes that registered voters have taken the time to research and evaluate the candidates. To confirm if these candidates are officially authorized by COMELEC, voters can access the official ballot face templates for their respective localities here.
Voters staying in the Philippines can simply select their respective region, while Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) should choose the “Overseas Voting” tab. As for those qualified to avail the Local Absentee Voting (LAV), they may select the corresponding “Local Absentee Voting” tab.
During the election day, use of mobile devices will not be allowed inside polling precincts. In order to guide voters in seamlessly choosing their preferred candidates, GMA Network has launched MyKodigo.
By the name itself kodigo, which means cheat sheet or crib, the website is designed to allow voters to select their candidates and print out their choices, providing a helpful reference to guide their decision-making. You can access the link to the website here.
Ultimately, COMELEC’s official website serves as the central hub for all election-related information in the Philippines. Upon visiting the site, users are greeted with a straightforward interface that contains all necessary information—including the guidelines, resolutions, voter education, election systems, and election-related updates.
Now, how to vote?
Now that you are well equipped with most of the necessary resources and links that can help in ensuring a smoother and wise voting experience, it all boils down to the steps in voting itself—how should we go about it?
To reiterate, take note of the schedule during the electoral process which will start from 7AM to 7PM. Senior citizens, people with disability, and pregnant voters may avail the early voting hours from 5AM to 7AM. Registered voters should bring any valid ID for identification.
Registered voters must, then, locate their assigned precinct and proceed thereafter. They may use COMELEC’s precinct finder for convenience.
Then, registered voters must proceed to the Electoral Board (EB) and provide their name, precinct, and sequence number. The information provided will be verified through the Election Day Computerized Voters List (EDCVL).
After having received their ballot, secrecy folder, and marking pen, registered voters will not proceed to the voting area where they will accomplish their ballot. To cast a vote, registered voters must shade the circle beside their chosen candidate’s name using the provided pen. It is prohibited to overvote and take photos of the ballot. Undervoting, however, is allowed.
Once completed, registered voters must insert their ballot into the Automated Counting Machine (ACM) and wait for the voter receipt, which will display their ballot image on the screen for confirmation.
Afterwards, registered voters must drop their voter receipt into the designated box, return the ballot secrecy folder and pen, and have their right index finger marked with indelible ink before leaving the premises.
Elections are no stranger to the Philippine political landscape. On the contrary, it is this very familiarity that has bred a sense of complacency among many Filipinos, leading to voter turnout that often falls short of its full potential—missing opportunities to shape outcomes far more impactful than imagined.
With this, The Bedan earnestly appeals to the Bedan community—and to the greater Filipino public—to exercise their right to vote with responsibility, discernment, and a deep sense of duty to the nation. Let us not dwell on missed opportunities, but instead seize every chance to help shape a brighter, better tomorrow.