Comelec conducts field tests for Filipino voters in US

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is currently conducting field tests in various locations in the U.S. for postal, online, and internet voting, which will be introduced for the first time in the upcoming local and national elections next year.

Comelec said that they are implementing security measures to fight off possible hacking attempts. 

"There’s no such thing as a system that’s completely hack-proof. What we do, given the prevalence of hacking and hacking attempts nowadays, is to implement the best possible security measures and remain vigilant in enforcing them," said Comelec Information Technology Department Director Eden Bolo.

Comelec Commissioner Ernesto Ferdinand Maceda Jr., meanwhile, emphasized that local experts and citizen arms such as the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) will oversee the local source code review.

"This is a highly transparent process. The moment the results are transmitted, concerns about manipulation can be addressed," said Maceda.

"Unlike before, when results passed through a transparency server where issues of opacity arose, now votes go directly to the central server and simultaneously to majority and minority parties, NAMFREL, and PPCRV. Once sent, everyone receives the results at the same time, with no stopovers or layovers. It’s a simple process of confirmation by comparing data at different levels, leaving no basis to suspect manipulation," he added.

Online voting, kiosks

The initial allocation for online voting is PHP 428 million, though Comelec estimates spending only PHP 112 million. Of the millions of eligible Filipino voters abroad, COMELEC anticipates just over a million registered voters to participate via online voting.

Starting April 13, 2025, overseas voters can cast their votes online using electronic devices such as mobile phones and laptops until May 12, Election Day in the Philippines.

Although online voting reduces the workload for consulates, New York Consul General Senen Mangalile announced that kiosks will be set up in consular offices to assist voters. Information dissemination campaigns will also be conducted by the consulate and Comelec to educate voters about the internet voting process.

A mock election is scheduled for December to test the online voting system.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News