MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has confirmed that preparations for internet voting in the 2028 national elections will continue despite an ongoing legal challenge before the Supreme Court of the Philippines regarding the online voting system used during the 2025 polls.
During a stakeholder forum held in Manila on Monday, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the poll body recently received an order from the Supreme Court directing them to comment on a motion seeking intervention in the petition questioning aspects of overseas online voting.
Despite the pending case, Garcia emphasized that Comelec remains committed to modernizing the electoral process for millions of overseas Filipinos.
“Mismong ang batas ay nag-authorize kay Comelec na pumunta sa ibang modes of voting, hindi lamang yung in-person,” Garcia said, stressing that Philippine law already allows alternative methods of voting beyond physical polling stations.
The Comelec chief also highlighted what he described as the successful outcome of the 2025 internet voting implementation, noting that the electronically transmitted results reportedly matched the manually counted votes.
“At the same time, gusto naman namin ipresenta rin sa Korte Suprema ang naging magandang outcome noong internet voting natin lalong-lalo na yung pinagmamalaki namin na 100 percent na nag-tally yung result ng internet, at yung manually counted na results,” Garcia added.
According to Comelec, waiting for the legal issue to be fully resolved before preparing for the next elections is not an option.
“As far as we’re concerned, as of this time, tuloy na tuloy ang internet voting para sa mga kababayan natin,” Garcia said.
Earlier Enrollment for 2028 Polls
The online voting period for the 2028 presidential elections is scheduled to begin on April 9, 2028. To encourage higher participation among overseas Filipino voters, Comelec plans to start the voter enrollment process much earlier.
Instead of opening enrollment in March as done during the 2025 elections, the poll body is targeting a February 9, 2028 launch for overseas voter registration and verification.
Comelec is also reviewing its identification requirements after many overseas Filipinos reportedly encountered difficulties due to limited accepted IDs during the previous election cycle.
“Ang isa sa mga naging issue, limited lang yung mga tinatanggap ng mga ID o pagkakakilanlan,” Garcia explained.
The poll body wants future service providers and system bidders to allow broader identification options, including expired or renewed passports, seaman’s books, and even local IDs that can prove Filipino citizenship or overseas residency.
“Kahit na yung ID na hindi pang abroad, kahit yung ID lang na nagpapakita na sila yung mga Filipinos o sila ay nag-i-stay dito, tatanggapin na dapat,” Garcia said.
OTP Verification and Security Measures
To further improve accessibility and user experience, Comelec is also studying the possibility of using instant messaging applications for sending one-time PINs (OTPs) used during voter verification.
Currently, OTPs are primarily sent through SMS or email, which became a concern for some overseas voters who experienced delays or limited access to Philippine mobile numbers while abroad.
At the same time, the poll body is reviewing security and secrecy safeguards following concerns that voters could potentially screenshot or photograph proof of their votes.
Garcia warned that such practices could contribute to vote-buying or coercion schemes.
“Pag kasi ganun, pwedeng ma-picturan, pwedeng mai-post, o pwedeng maging paraan o dahilan para sa issue ng vote-buying,” he said.
To address this, Comelec plans to include stricter provisions in its future guidelines that would prohibit posting images or screenshots of completed ballots online, potentially classifying such acts as election offenses.
A Major Shift for Overseas Voting
The continued push for internet voting could significantly transform participation among overseas Filipinos, particularly overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who often face logistical challenges in accessing embassies and consulates during election periods.
Many OFWs in countries across the Middle East, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates, have long called for a more convenient and accessible voting process.
While supporters view internet voting as a step toward modernization and wider democratic participation, critics continue to raise concerns regarding cybersecurity, voter privacy, system transparency, and the integrity of remote digital voting systems.
As preparations continue for the 2028 elections, the Supreme Court’s ruling and Comelec’s planned improvements are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of overseas voting in the Philippines.
