Guide to the 2025 Philippine elections


This article serves as a comprehensive guide to the 2025 Philippine elections, providing key information for voters to make informed decisions.
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(UPDATED) Here's a comprehensive list of important information that can help voters make better sense of the 2025 elections

Voting in the any election comes with the responsibility of being prepared when you head to the polling precincts.

But this preparation doesn’t happen overnight, making the months leading to May 12, 2025, elections crucial for the millions of registered Filipino voters. It is the period where they will have to carefully decide who to support ideally based on their values, the candidates’ track records, and the promises they make for the future.

As election day approaches, it’s essential for Filipinos to not only familiarize themselves with the candidates but also understand the electoral process. This will help as they reflect on the nation’s needs and ensure that their votes contribute to shaping a government that can address pressing issues like economic growth and national security.

Here is a comprehensive Rappler guide to key information that will ensure voters are ready for May 12. Bookmark and refresh this page to find more helpful information as they come in.

Record-high number of registered voters

There are 68,431,965 registered voters in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections, according to data from the Commission on Elections, excluding 1.3 million overseas Filipino voters. The number of registered voters for this election is 2.6 million higher than the 65,745,526 recorded in 2022. This is also the largest registered voter population since the 1992 elections.

A total of five provinces have registered voter counts that surpass the two-million mark. These include Cavite with 2,447,362 voters,  Bulacan with 2,173,026 voters, Cebu with 2,172,170 voters, Laguna with 2,140,124 voters, and Pangasinan with 2,011,825 voters. Other vote-rich areas include Batangas, Rizal, Negros Occidental, Nueva Ecija, and Quezon. 

What’s at stake: Positions vs candidates

There are 18,320 elective positions up for grabs in the 2025 polls, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec). These are across the Philippines and include posts from the Senate down to cities and municipalities. This total number is an increase from 18,180 in 2022 due to the addition of parliamentary positions under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, but Congress is still deliberating on whether to postpone the region's parliamentary election.

Senatorial candidates

The number of senatorial candidates is now at 66, according to a release by the Comelec in December 2024. This is significantly lower than the list containing 183 candidates as of November 2024. Those who did not make the cut were the ones declared as nuisance candidates, based on motu proprio cases handled by the Commission.

The candidates gunning for one of the 12 spots available in the Philippine Senate are the following:

Check this page for the list of Comelec-approved candidates as of December 2024.

Election surveys

Election surveys play a crucial role in offering a snapshot of voter preferences when it comes to national candidates. The results of these surveys help not just candidates and their parties but also the voters in understanding the shifting public sentiment.

But while surveys are useful indicators of public opinion, they do not always directly translate to votes due to a variety of factors, including voter turnout and campaign developments, among others. These factors can influence election outcomes in ways that surveys may not fully capture. Can we say the same for the 2025 elections?

Rappler senatorial survey

Local candidates

Local candidates play a crucial role in shaping the future of provinces, districts, cities, and municipalities. Their leadership, after all, directly impacts policies that in turn affect public services and community development.

It is therefore essential to be informed about those seeking office and the positions they aim to fill.

You may also read about their functions, duties, and other responsibilities:

Party list race

There are 155 party-list groups gunning for a slot at the House of Representatives. Their nominees aim to get at least one – or even three, if they get enough votes – of the 63 seats allotted for party-list representatives.

These seats make up 20% of the total 317 membership of the House of Representatives, as mandated by Republic Act No. 7941 or the Party-List Act. These representatives are chosen from the nominees of national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations or coalitions. Each representative can serve up to three consecutive terms.

Learn about the party-list groups and their nominees, the current composition of the party-list race, the roles and responsibilities of their representatives once elected, and the issues they face:

Overseas absentee voting

Overseas absentee voters play a crucial role in Philippine elections as they represent millions of Filipinos abroad who contribute significantly to the economy through remittances.

Learn more about overseas voters and the voting methods available to them.

Rappler’s one-stop microsite for the 2025 elections

Rappler will launch on February 11, the start of the campaign period for national positions, a one-stop microsite that will have all the relevant information about the 2025 elections. Bookmark this page to check the link once it goes live.

– Rappler.com

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