Balota

Voter's Education

Who are we supposed to vote for?

For the May 2025 Philippine Elections, you are to vote for the following positions.

National Positions

  • Senators (12 seats)
  • Partylist (1 seat)
  • Representative (1 seat)

Local Positions

  • Governor (1 seat)*
  • Vice Governor (1 seat)*
  • Board Members (6 seats)*
  • BARMM District Representative (1 seat) - applicable if in BARMM
  • Mayor (1 seat)
  • Vice Mayor (1 seat)
  • Councilors (12 seats)

Note: the positions of Governor, Vice Governor and Provincial Board Members are only required if you live in a province.

What are the responsibilities of each position?

During the campaign period, many candidates promise their constituents that life will be better, poverty will be finished and that they will "fight" for them. However, what exactly do they do on the day to day basis?

Senators

As per the 1987 Philippine Constitution and other laws, the key duties and responsibilities of a senator are:

  • Propose, review, and enact laws
  • Amend or repeal existing laws
  • Review international treaties and agreements
  • Monitor the Executive Branch
  • Review government spending and policies
  • Summon officials for questioning
  • Act as judges in impeachment trials
  • Vote on removing public officials
  • Propose Constitutional Amendments

Partylists

As per the 1987 Philippine Constitution and other laws, the key duties and responsibilities of a party-list representative are:

  • Propose, review, and enact laws
  • Amend or repeal existing laws
  • Scrutinize the national budget
  • Voice out the concerns of their sector

Representatives

As per the 1987 Philippine Constitution and other laws, the key duties and responsibilities of a representative are:

  • Propose, review, and enact laws
  • Amend or repeal existing laws
  • Scrutinize the national budget
  • Voice out the concerns of their city, municipality or district
  • Secure funding for local projects
  • Initiate and approve impeachment proceedings

Governor

As per the 1987 Philippine Constitution and other laws, the key duties and responsibilities of a governor are:

  • Lead the provincial government
  • Oversee local government units (LGU)
  • Enforce national laws at the provincial level
  • Approve or veto provincial ordinances
  • Prepare the annual budget for the province
  • Initiate and oversee projects
  • Appoint provincial department heads

Vice Governor

As per the 1987 Philippine Constitution and other laws, the key duties and responsibilities of a vice governor are:

  • Presiding officier of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board)
  • Break tie votes in provincial board voting
  • Propose or sponsor provincial ordinances
  • Assume the Governor's position when necessary

Provincial Board Member (Sangguniang Panlalawigan)

As per the 1987 Philippine Constitution and other laws, the key duties and responsibilities of a provincial board member are:

  • Propose, review and pass provincial laws
  • Amend or repeal existing provincial ordinances
  • Approve or disapprove provincial budget
  • Repreent their district in the Provincial Board
  • Conduct investigations and inquiries

Mayor

As per the 1987 Philippine Constitution and other laws, the key duties and responsibilities of a mayor are:

  • Lead the local government unit (LGU)
  • Supervise baranggays
  • Implement national laws at the local level
  • Approve or veto local ordinances
  • Prepare the annual budget of the local government unit
  • Appoint local department heads

Vice Mayor

As per the 1987 Philippine Constitution and other laws, the key duties and responsibilities of a vice mayor are:

  • Presiding officier of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (city council) or Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council)
  • Break tie votes in the council
  • Propose local laws
  • Assume the Mayor's position when necessary

Councilor

As per the 1987 Philippine Constitution and other laws, the key duties and responsibilities of a councilor are:

  • Draft, propose, and pass local laws
  • Review and amend existing ordinances
  • Approve city/municipality budget
  • Set local tax policies
  • Oversee barangay governance

Where do I vote?

You may find your designated COMELEC voting precint on COMELEC Precinct Finder website. You may access it here.

As of April 1, 2025, the platform is not yet accessible.

When do I vote?

For Filipino Citizens situated in the Philippines, voting is on May 12, 2025 (Monday).

Meanwhile, Filipino Citizens situated abroad will have their voting period from April 13, 2025 until May 12, 2025. For more info, refer to the article by COMELEC here.

What to bring?

As long as you are a registed voter, all you need to bring is a Valid ID to be able to vote.

Valid IDs include:

  • Voter's ID
  • Passport
  • Driver's License
  • Postal ID
  • PhilSys (National ID)
  • SSS/GSSS ID
  • PRC ID
  • Senior Citizen ID
  • PWD ID
  • Any other government-issued ID with your photo and signature

Optionally, you may also bring the following:

  • Ballpen
  • Sample ballot
  • Face Mask
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Water & Snacks