By Bea Rollo
(April 13, 2025) – The official overseas voting period for registered Filipino voters abroad has officially opened on Sunday, 8 a.m. (local time), according to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
The overseas voting in countries with enrolled Registered Overseas Voters (ROVs) will remain open until May 12, 7 p.m. Manila time, coinciding with the close of voting in the Philippines.
Filipinos in New Zealand, under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in Wellington, were among the first to cast their votes, beginning at 4 a.m. (Manila time.)
This follows the successful conclusion of the test voting period for ROVs enrolled under the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS), which ended at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday.
The test voting period, which began on March 20 and ended on April 12, allowed overseas voters to familiarize themselves with the new digital platform before the actual voting began.
The initiative aimed to ensure a smoother and more efficient electoral process for Filipinos abroad.
According to COMELEC, the OVCS mock voting was tested using an Election Verifier System, which confirmed that all test ballots were accurately recorded and properly counted.
The poll body assured the public that the system functioned as intended and that the integrity of the voting process is secure.
Following the end of the mock voting, the official Overseas Voting Period officially opened on Sunday, April 13, at 8 a.m. local time in countries with registered overseas voters. The voting will remain open until May 12, 7 p.m. Manila time, coinciding with the close of voting in the Philippines.
COMELEC continues to encourage overseas Filipinos to participate in the elections and take advantage of the enhanced digital voting platform designed for ease and accessibility.
(AAD)
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