Philippine Ambassador Alfonso Ferdinand Ver said on Monday, April 14, that there was a “promising turnout” for the first day of the overseas online voting for Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates.
Philippine Ambassador to UAE Alfonso Ferdinand Ver with his team during the first day of overseas online voting for the May 2025 elections on April 13, 2025. (Photo courtesy of PH Embassy)
“I am not allowed to tell you the actual number of those who voted but it was a promising turn out and more importantly it helped in accelerating the rate of online enrollment (which can still be done until 07 May 2025),” he said in a statement sent to the Manila Bulletin.
Online enrollment for registered overseas absentee voters has started on March 20 and will last until May 7, or five days before the May 12, 2025 midterm elections in the Philippines.
Ver said while there were some technical issues at the beginning of the first day, the embassy was not deterred and the issues were resolved by the 24/7 technical support provided by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
So far, the ambassador said some five percent of the 66,001 registered OAVs in Abu Dhabi enrolled in the online voting system.
“The interesting thing is that there was no queue of people who came to vote - which was a standard feature of the previous overseas voting - This proves that online voting is the way to go for our community in the UAE. The online voting system is indeed not just a practical and easy way but at the same time secure and credible,” Ver added.
He also shared that there were many voters who came to the polling precinct on the first day of online voting to seek assistance on the enrollment before proceeding to cast their votes.
“I reiterate my call on the community, particularly the registered voters to enroll and cast their votes and show the power and presence of the Overseas Filipinos in strengthening our democratic institutions and make a concrete contribution to shaping and building the future of the Philippines,” the envoy appealed.
Social media posts showed there are current apprehensions among overseas Filipino voters on the credibility of the voting process, particularly the transparency of the ballots and suspicions on the ballots containing the names of candidates they did not vote for.
The month-long internet voting for OAVs in select territories is the first held by Comelec despite a challenge before the Supreme Court.
Online voting is allowed in 77 posts in different countries, including in the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and European countries.
The voting portals are open 24 hours, and votes can be cast using smartphones, computers, and tablets with internet connections.
In countries without online voting, Filipino voters would have to appear in person at their respective embassies or consulates.
Among the territories without online voting for Filipinos are China, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Libya.