You’ve already registered as a new voter in the COMELEC, and the time has finally come. The midterms are right around the corner, and it’s time to elect key national and local officials. What do you need to do, and what should you prepare for? Gearing up for your first time voting experience can be nerve-wrecking, but we’ve got you covered with this guide on how to vote in the Philippines:

Get to know your candidates

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The streets around your neighborhood are probably filled with election paraphernalia, and the jingles might be your morning alarm on some days – that’s what the election season in the Philippines is like. With just two weeks left before we cast our votes, dedicate time to get to know the candidates you’re voting for. What are their values, principles, and advocacies? If they’re running for reelection, what have they accomplished in their previous term/s?

Remember: you’re voting for your future, and these candidates are here to show you what they can offer to the table. It’s just right to have high standards and be picky!

Prepare a kodigo or cheat sheet

Got your final list of candidates you want to vote for? To make sure you don’t forget their names, prepare a cheat sheet or kodigo so you won’t forget! The COMELEC suggests having a written kodigo because using your phone inside the precinct is not allowed. Be ready with the following:

National

• 12 Senators
• 1 Party-list

Local

• 1 Member, House of Representatives
• 1 Provincial Governor
• 1 Provincial Vice-Governor
• Sangguniang Panlalawigan
• 1 Mayor
• 1 Vice-Mayor
• Sangguniang Panglungsod

Having a list of who you’re voting for will also speed up your voting process.

Know when and where to vote

According to law, local and national elections are scheduled for the second Monday of May, which, in this year’s case, is May 12, 2025.

The regular voting hours are from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, while the early voting hours for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWD), and pregnant women are from 5:00 AM to 7:00 AM.

You also need to know where your precinct is. COMELEC has an online system that allows you to search for your precinct by providing your full name, date of birth, and place of voter registration.

Access the precinct finder here.

Familiarize yourself with the sample ballot

Now that you have a list of who you’re voting for, it would also be helpful to familiarize yourself with the ballot. On election day, you will be given a ballot with two sides. The first side indicates the following positions: Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, Provincial Governor, Provincial Vice-Governor, Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Mayor, Vice-Mayor, and Members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod. Meanwhile, you can choose a Party List on the other side of the ballot.

COMELEC also has an online portal where you can download a sample ballot based on your voting location. You can access it here.

Go to your precinct early

Expect long lines, so it’s best to arrive at your assigned precinct early. Since election day is in the summertime, it’s a good idea to arrive before peak hours and avoid waiting in line while enduring the heat.

What is the voting process?

According to COMELEC, here are eight steps to casting your vote:

1. Approach the electoral board and state your name, precinct number, and sequence number.
2. The electoral board will check if your name is on the Election Day Computerized Voter List (EDCVL) and if any of your fingernails have an indelible ink mark.
3. If there’s no indelible ink mark, the electoral board will verify your identity and ask for your signature on the EDCVL.
4. The electoral board will show you a clean ballot, place it in a secrecy folder, and give you a marker.
5. Go to the voting area. Vote by fully shading the circle before the name of the candidate you wish to vote for. Do not overvote!
6. After shading, insert the voting ballot into the Automated Counting Machine (ACM). Wait for the receipt to be printed and check the ballot image on the screen.
7. Review your voting receipt and drop it in the designated box. Then, return the secrecy folder and marking pen.
8. Have indelible ink applied to the forefinger of your right hand and leave the precinct.

Double-check your voter’s receipt

Sure, you’d want your voting experience to be done and dusted quickly, but make sure the right votes were still cast from the names you shaded.

Don’t take photos of your ballot or voter’s receipt

You might feel excited to share your first voting experience, but remember that you cannot use your phone inside the precinct, especially to take photos of your ballot.

Wait until you’ve exited the room to use your phone and take photos with your indelible ink instead.

BONUS

We’ve got you covered with more material for the elections. Check them out:

• What does a Congressman do?
• What does a Senator do?

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