Voters’ Digital Rights: Research on the Internet Voting System as One of the Modes for Overseas Voting in the 2025 Elections

In the past, overseas Filipinos can vote by going to the Philippine Embassy or consulate to cast their votes, or through mail. It was observed however that voter turn-out is way below the number of registered overseas Filipino voters. Overseas Filipinos often face logistical difficulties when voting, arising from the required physical appearance for registration and voting. If the registration site is in another state, it will take them away from their jobs and homes just to vote. In 2022, reports say that of the 1.6 million OFs, only 600,000 were able to vote.

In 2023, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) approved online voting for overseas Filipinos (OF). The said move is to encourage more overseas Filipinos to cast their votes during elections. Internet voting will be the primary mode of casting votes for Filipinos abroad in 2025 except in areas with internet connectivity issues. In the case of seafarers, this is a welcome development since they can now vote even if they are at sea.

The Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA) and the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) aimed to conduct a research study on eVoting for overseas Filipinos. More than just understanding what eVoting is about and how it will be implemented, the study will focus on digital rights issues with the implementation of eVoting. Specifically, it hopes to examine the following: data privacy and data protection such as data handling, data ownership, security of voter’s data, and use of AI tools (if applicable); security issues in relation to the use of device for internet voting, as well as the security of votes and transmission; and, issues related to the right to information (i.e., how information is disseminated to OFWs to encourage them to vote).