Lowest voting turnout on East Coast despite new system
On the East Coast, where the New York Consulate oversees voting, the lowest turnout was recorded in the recent election. Out of 31,990 registered overseas voters, only 2,500 participated using the first-ever online voting system. This means just over 7 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots, a surprisingly low figure considering the new method aimed to boost participation.
Reasons behind the low voter turnout on East Coast
New York Consul General Senen Mangalile, who also chairs the Special Board of Election Inspectors, pointed to technical issues and insufficient information as the main reasons for the low turnout. Despite efforts by consulate staff to inform voters, he admitted that a month was not enough time to reach everyone effectively.
“We are quite disappointed that we only achieved a 7.81 percent turnout out of over 31,000 voters—about 2,500 voters even participated in the midterm election. This is quite low. We did everything we could to reach voters.”
Key candidates and parties among East Coast voters
Among voters on the East Coast, leading candidates included former Senators Bam Aquino, Kiko Pangilinan, Heidi Mendoza, Bong Go, Bato Dela Rosa, Teddy Casino, Ping Lacson, Tito Sotto, Vic Rodriguez, Rodante Marcos, Luke Espiritu, and Arlene Brosas. The ML Partylist, led by former Senator Leila de Lima, also gained significant support in the area.
Next steps for the online voting system
Consul General Mangalile confirmed that an evaluation of the entire online voting process will be conducted. The results will be shared with the Department of Foreign Affairs to improve future elections. “There will be an assessment of the entire exercise, and we will be working with the Department of Foreign Affairs to communicate our findings to the Commission on Elections,” he said.
For voters and observers eager to stay updated on the 2025 elections, several online microsites provide detailed information and news on ongoing developments.