When Democracy Goes Digital

A Look Inside the Philippine Embassy in London During the Philippines’  First Online Overseas Election

By Paloma Garcia  Tomas San Pedro

LONDON- On May 12, 2025, history quietly unfolded inside the walls of the Philippine Embassy in London. For the first time, overseasFilipinos in the United Kingdom cast their votes for the Mid- term Philippine Elections online – marking a pivotal shift in how our global Filipinos participate in Philippine democracy.

We submitted an application to the Philippine Embassy as a Media Accreditation Officer representing Juan Eu Konek. We were then granted the opportunity to oversee the ballot counting process for this pilot of internet voting during the Philippine National Midterm Elections. The experience was more than just technical supervision – it was a front-row seat to a moment of transformation, one that brought forth both the promise and potential challenges of digital democracy.

Context: A New Electoral Landscape

The 2025 midterm elections in the Philippines determined key national and local posts including 12 Senate Seats, and 1 Party List of their choice. Traditionally, overseas Filipinos would vote either by mail or by physically submitting their ballot through their local embassy. However, this year marked a digital turning point.

Bolstered by Section 23 of Republic Act No, 10590 or the Overseas Voting Act of 2013, which permitted voting “by any other means as may be determined by the Commission”, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), authorized the use of electronic and internet-based technologies for voting. Eventuallyleading to the selected 77 foreign posts registered for Internet Voting, including the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.

Voters were required to complete a pre-voting enrollment between March 20 and May 7, undergoing an automatedverification process to confirm identity and active registration attheir respective post. Only once verified could voters proceed to the secure online portal to cast their votes between April 13 and May 12 – a fixed 30-day period aligned with Philippine Standard Time.

A Front-row Seat to History 

Prior to overseeing the ballot count, we attended an information dissemination session on April 23, 2025, held at the PhilippineEmbassy in London, where embassy officials walked us through the entire online voting process. In attendance were prominent Filipino community leaders – trusted figures who could help spread awareness within their networks.

Security and privacy concerns dominated the discussion.Questions about data breaches and vote integrity were met with reassurances from the Embassy and a COMELEC official, who explained the encrypted systems and multi-layered protections in place. Seniors in particular raised concerns about unfamiliarity with the technology, despite the embassy offering support through designated voting kiosks for those with limited digital access, including elderly voters, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women.

On May 12, 2025, the final day of voting, we arrived at the embassy at around 11:30am British Standard Time (6:30pmPhilippine Time), just in time to witness the last senior citizenscast their votes at the onsite kiosks. Voting officially closed at 12:00pm UK time (7:00pm Philippine time), and promptly after, we were greeted by appointed COMELEC officials, who began the process of retrieving and verifying votes.

To access the results, three separate digital “keys” were required, each held by different COMELEC officials. I was joined in the room by several members of the Philippine Embassy

staff, as well as accredited Philippine national “watchers” whowere present to ensure full

transparency throughout the proceedings.

However, we soon observed the hurdles that this new system put in place for our new electoral process. Between 1:00pm and 4:30pm, multiple printing errors from the Overseas Voting Counting System (OVCS) printer and a blackout caused by an unexpected downpour in the heart of London led to severe delays in the retrieval of results. Furthermore, a crucial component necessary for the transmission of votes that was sent by COMELEC experienced substantial delays in its arrival at the Embassy, delaying the electoral process whilst the local tally had already begun.

By around 4:30pm, the printer eventually began generating voter receipts and ballot images, which formed the basis of the officialstatistical reports. Election returns were printed, beginning with the Isle of Man, followed by Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Jersey, and lastly, Guernsey.

For each of the six jurisdictions, thirty copies of the results were printed. Each copy was reviewed and signed by both COMELEC officials and one of the watchers, formally verifying the legitimacy of the results. The session ultimately convened at 6:00pm, with a plan to resume the following day to start the official tallying of votes and the documentation processes.

Day Two: May 13th, 2025

The following morning, we arrived at the embassy by 10:30am, anticipating the prompt start of the official tally to complement the nearly completed local count. By 12:16pm, results had been

successfully transmitted to six of the seven designated COMELEC servers, each corresponding to a distinct oversightbody. However, progress remained stalled as we awaited thearrival of the final component required to initiate the full tally.

The component arrived at 1:30pm, followed by necessary preparations to begin the official tally by 3:00pm. By 7:53pm, all votes had officially been accounted for. With quiet anticipation, we observed as the results began to reflect the UK Filipino community’s vision for the country’s future leadership.

We were surprised and, frankly, quite disheartened, at the substantially low voter turnout in the UK. With just a turnoverrate of 13.35%, or 4,151/30,688 registered voters, only a smallnumber of the Filipino diaspora in the UK exercised their democratic right to vote. We speculated as to why this might have been the case. Was it the increased convenience that translated into complacency? Was it disillusionment with the current candidates? We contemplated these possibilities as we awaited the votes of each senatorial candidate and party list group.

The announcement of each senatorial candidate and their respective votes signaled a clear message: support for the Duterte Administration, and their endorsed senators, was as strong as ever. With an authoritative performance, 6 PDP-Labancandidates entered the UK’s ‘Magic 12’, with Bong Go (1^st/12^th; 2,221 votes), ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa (2^nd/12^th; 2,096 votes), Rodante Marcoleta (3^rd/12^th; 2,057 votes), Jimmy Bondoc (5^th/12^th; 1,620 votes), Raul Lambino (8^th/12^th; 1,620 votes), and Philipp Salvador (12^th/12^th; 1,314 votes) all representing that support for the Dutertes remains strong 11,000 kilometers from Manila. Meanwhile, the performances for candidates Bam Aquino (4^th/12^th; 1,843 votes) and Kiko Panilingan (7^th/12^th; 1,733 votes)in the UK echoed national trends, reflecting a segment of theelectorate’s appetite for a departure from previous administrations and policies.

The table below showcases the UK’s choices for the ‘Magic 12’:

Moreover, the ‘Duterte Youth’ had a dominant performance, with 816 votes and more than 21.48% of all voters selecting theparty list as their choice. While Akbayan came in 2^nd with 415 votes and 10.48% of voter selection, paling in comparison to the significant support for the Dutertes that is present in the UK.

This preference was further mirrored in the broader electoral landscape. We witnessed a pronounced political tilt within theFilipino community in the UK, one that remained steadfast in its support for the Dutertes, while enthusiasm for the Marcos administration appeared markedly subdued. Could this shift signal an emerging realignment ahead of the 2028 Philippine National Elections — or is it simply a temporary departure from the current political order?

Despite the obstacles and delays that occurred, we were nevertheless enthralled at the entire scene. This was not a typical election with lines of voters or the rustle of paper ballots – but it was no less powerful. Every vote had already been cast online – what remained was to ensure those voices were counted, accurately and transparently. We were placed at the heart of an evolving democratic process, one that demanded trust not just in institutions, but in technology itself.

Looking Back, Thinking Forward

Professionally, the experience gave us a deeper appreciation for the mechanics behind free and fair elections, especially in a transnational context. For us, it was a moment of pride. To witness the Filipino community, often separated from the homeland by oceans and time zones – still deeply determined to engage in the political future of the Philippines was both humbling and hopeful.

What stood out to us most was the importance of generational representation. As the youngest person in the room, we saw firsthand how vital it is for young voices to be included in spaces like this. Democracy is strongest when it reflects every generation – not just those with the most experience. We aregrateful the Philippine Embassy is making space for youngerparticipation in

these critical moments. After all, anyone eligible to votedeserves not just a say, but a seat at the table – to be informed, engaged, and involved.

This experience reaffirmed something powerful for me: that community matters. Living abroad can often feel isolating, but events like these show the strength and unity of the Filipino spirit. In moments like this – when the nation calls, even from thousands of miles away – we show up. We support one another. We make sure every voice is heard.

It is also a reminder to our fellow young Filipinos: your voice is needed. No matter where you are in the world, you are part of our democracy. Get involved. Ask questions. Start conversations. Whether you are helping your parents register to vote, volunteering at your local consulate, or just learning more about the issues that matter – you’re contributing to a future that includes you.

And above all, vote. It is not just a right – it is also a responsibility. When we vote, we claim our rightful stake in the future of our nation. When we show up, we make change possible. And sometimes, it takes a quiet room in London and a digital ballot to remind us that even small votes can make a large difference in dictating the path of our nation.