Comelec targets 3 million new voters for 2025 polls

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported yesterday a high turnout of prospective voters on the first day of the seven-month voter registration for the May 2025 midterm elections.

The Comelec said it is targeting three million Filipinos to register as new voters.

According to the Comelec, applicants flocked to almost 2,000 registration sites, including 170 malls nationwide where the Registration Anywhere Program (RAP) was mounted.

“It was a success. The turnout of voter registrants was overwhelming,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said.

The Comelec also set up RAP centers in churches and government agencies.

Garcia flew to Pag-Asa Island yesterday to oversee the voter registration in the municipality of Kalayaan.

The poll chief said he went to Kalayaan to ensure that even Filipinos from far-flung areas would be able to participate in elections.

The Comelec has yet to release the number of registrants who signed on the first day of the voter registration.

Some applicants started to line up at Comelec registration sites as early as 4 a.m. yesterday. Others registered at the Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.

The voter registration will run until Sept. 30. The registration for the RAP is until Aug. 31.

Voter applicants may register from Monday to Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in all Comelec offices nationwide.