Click to Vote: Filipinos in Italy React to Historic First Day of Online Voting for 2025 Elections

MILAN– Overseas voting began on April 13 at 8:00 a.m. and will run until May 12 at 7:00 p.m., synchronized with the end of voting hours in the Philippines, according to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

“Makiisa sa kauna-unahang Internet Voting sa kasaysayan ng halalan sa Pilipinas!” the COMELEC posted online, marking the start of the 30-day overseas voting period, beginning at 8:00 a.m., local time of the Post/Country.

However, this process is only available to Registered Overseas Voters (ROVs) enrolled in the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS), registered at 77 selected Posts. Voting can be done using any internet-connected electronic device, such as a computer, smartphone, or tablet.

Additionally, the poll body announced that voting kiosks will be available at Posts to assist illiterate voters, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and pregnant women.

Filipino Voters in Italy on the First Day of Online Voting

Voters in Italy shared mixed reactions as online voting for the 2025 elections kicked off.

For Debbie Toledo, the new system is a positive step forward, especially for Filipinos living in remote areas.

“Kung walang magiging aberya o katiwalian, ito ay magandang pamamaraan ng pagboto. Mabilis, maliwanag, at walang balakid sa pagbibigay ng personal na pagpili,” Toledo said.

(“If there are no glitches or fraud, it’s a great way to vote. It’s fast, clear, and there are no barriers in expressing your personal choice.”)

On the other hand, Quirina Porter expressed concern, saying:

“Online voting is illegal, there is no law for online voting as of now, but we are forced to do so. I hope the election return is clean.”

Porter noted that while the system is already in use, questions remain regarding its legality.

The Supreme Court’s decision on the legality of online voting is still pending.

Meanwhile, Malou Alam welcomed the convenience of the process: “Hindi na kailangan pumunta sa konsulado. Pindot-pindot lang sa phone, nakaboto na ako. Wala pang 10 minutes.”

(“There’s no need to go to the consulate. Just a few taps on the phone and I’ve voted. It took me less than 10 minutes.”)

According to the Philippine Consulate General in Milan, they continue to provide assistance to voters who need help with pre-enrollment and the actual voting process.

In Bologna, consulate staff are helping Filipinos enroll using their mobile phones to access the system.

Consul General Elmer Cato shared that voter response on the first day of online voting in Northern Italy has been positive.

“The response has been very good considering it’s just the first day of online voting here in Northern Italy. We had kababayan who came to the Consulate the whole day today for assistance in enrolling and in voting online. We also had some who went to the venue of our consular outreach mission in Bologna for assistance,” said Cato.

However, some common issues were noted.

“We encountered the usual issues, mostly from kababayan overseas voters who are asking for instructions on how to enroll. Some, it seems, have not really been following our social media page where we’ve been posting information about online voting since the start of the year and are now asking for details,” he added.

To address this, the Consulate continues to strengthen its information campaign, both in person and online.

According to an advisory from the Philippine Consulate General in Milan, voters can use mobile devices or laptops to vote by following these steps:

• Open a browser (Chrome or Safari)

• Access the website: https://ov.comelec.gov.ph/vote

• Log in using your email address or mobile number

• Enter the one-time password (OTP) sent via email or mobile

• Select and vote for your preferred candidates

Consulate staff are available from Monday to Sunday until May 12 to assist voters who need help with pre-enrollment and voting. Enrollment for online voting is only open until May 7, 2025.

The Consulate reiterates its call to nearly 20,000 registered voters in Northern Italy to register their mobile phones, if they haven’t yet, and begin voting.

“They should not wait until the last minute to exercise their right to vote,” said Cato.

COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia said that around 48,000 out of 1.2 million registered overseas Filipino voters have enrolled during the poll body’s pre-enrollment period for the 2025 elections.

Online voting will run until May 12, 2025.

PHOTOS: PCG Milan