In just a matter of days, over 68 million registered voters will head to polling precincts nationwide to cast their votes in the highly anticipated national and local elections.
To help ensure a smooth, orderly, and informed voting experience, here’s a comprehensive step-by-step guide for voters on election day.
- Approach the Electoral Board (EB) and state your name, precinct number, and sequence number.
- The EB will verify your name on the Election Day Computerized Voters’ List (EDCVL) and ensure you haven’t voted yet by checking for indelible ink on your finger.
- If your finger shows no sign of indelible ink, the Electoral Board will proceed to verify your identity and have you sign the computerized voters’ list.
- The EB Chairperson will present a clean, unmarked ballot, place it inside a ballot secrecy folder, and hand it to you along with the official marking pen.
- Proceed to the voting area and cast your vote by fully shading the circle beside the name of your chosen candidate.
- After filling out your ballot, insert it into the Automated Counting Machine (ACM), and review the ballot image displayed on the screen.
- Check your receipt carefully and drop it into the designated container. Then, return the secrecy folder and marking pen to the Electoral Board.
Meanwhile, it is crucial for voters to be mindful of the voting hours set for election day:
- 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM: Regular voting hours
- 5:00 AM – 7:00 AM: Early voting hours for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Senior Citizens (including their assistors, if any), and pregnant voters
- 5:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Voting in the Priority Polling Place (PPP)
- 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Voting in the Persons Deprived of Liberty – Special Polling Place (PDL-SPP)
Express lanes are set up during election day at regular polling places to accommodate senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWD), indigenous peoples (IP), pregnant voters, and escorted persons deprived of liberty.
Furthermore, the Priority Polling Place is located on the ground floor of the regular voting center to serve senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWD), and pregnant voters.
The Satellite-Priority Polling Place is located in assisted living facilities to accommodate senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD).
Accessible Voting Centers are also set up near or within Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities to make voting more convenient and inclusive for members of these groups.
PDL Special Polling Places, on the other hand, are located inside detention centers or jail facilities to allow persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) to exercise their right to vote.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) previoulsy reported that approximately 68 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots across more than 438,000 precincts in 37,528 voting centers nationwide.
For more updates and live coverage on election day, follow our #Desisyon2025 tag on social media.
