Philippine Elections 2025: Amidst Violence, Vote Count Proceeds Swiftly

The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported sixteen deaths and more than forty violent incidents related to the 2025 elections. Despite this, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) reported that vote transmission was faster than in previous elections. However, there were malfunctions with the automated counting machines (ACMs). One incident involved presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos having to re-feed his ballot. Ana Singson of the PPCRV noted that the machines often reset after three ballots, and that while there were complaints about overvoting, voters were careful to only mark one candidate. National Chairman Angel Averia Jr. of NAMFREL noted that the perennial problem of voters looking for their names on the list or precinct assignment persists. Despite the challenges, the PPCRV reported that the election was generally smooth and efficient. The speed of the transmission is a positive sign for the future of Philippine elections.