Overseas Filipinos are preparing for the 2025 Philippine midterm elections, with a new enrollment period for online voting set from March 20 to May 7, as announced by the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi. This adjustment from the original schedule of March 10 to May 12 aims to facilitate smoother registration for Filipino expats. For the first time, internet voting will be implemented, eliminating the need for long queues at Philippine missions. However, registered voters must pre-enroll before participating in the election to choose 12 senators and a party-list representative.
The pre-enrollment link will be available on the official websites and social media pages of the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Philippine missions. Before pre-enrolling, Filipinos are advised to verify their registration status by checking the certified list of voters (CLOV) released by Comelec. The CLOV can be accessed through specific links for Abu Dhabi and Dubai/Northern Emirates.
Online voting for overseas Filipino expats, including those in the UAE, will take place from April 13 to May 12. Voters can cast their ballots using mobile phones, tablets, laptops, or desktop computers with internet connectivity and a camera. In case of technical issues, physical voting is still an option at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate-General in Dubai.
The UAE consistently ranks among the top countries for Filipino voter turnout. During the 2022 presidential elections, Dubai recorded the highest number of overseas voters worldwide since 2004. As of December 2024, there are 189,396 registered Filipino voters in the UAE, with 123,502 in Dubai and the Northern Emirates and 65,894 in Abu Dhabi.
The shift to online voting is expected to enhance voter participation and convenience. Filipinos in the UAE are encouraged to stay updated on the latest developments through official channels and to ensure their registration is active before the pre-enrollment period.
The Philippine Embassy and Consulate-General are ready to support voters throughout the process, ensuring that every eligible Filipino expat can exercise their right to vote.
