Philippines Launches Crucial Manual Vote Audit: Ensuring Transparency in 2025 Elections

The Philippines is currently undertaking a crucial random manual audit of votes cast in the recent 2025 elections. This process, a cornerstone of electoral transparency, involves the meticulous hand-counting of ballots from various polling precincts across the nation. News5's frontline reporting provides a glimpse into this critical process. The video shows ballot boxes arriving at the audit center in Pasay City, where teams of public school teachers, selected for their prior experience with electoral boards, are carefully counting the votes. Strict security measures are in place to ensure the integrity of the process. According to Kari Cator, a News5 reporter on the scene, "59 ballot boxes are being processed at the Random Manual Audit Center." These counts are then verified against the results obtained from the automated counting machines (ACMs) used during the election. Observers from civil society and professional groups, including the PPCRV and NAMFREL, are monitoring the audit to ensure accuracy. The entire process, while labor-intensive, is a testament to the commitment of the Philippines to fair and transparent elections. The manual audit, expected to take 45 days, is a vital step in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process and building public trust in the results.