Election Commission 7: Disputed May 12, 2025 Election Day, Citing Choices Controversies
Article Rewrite:
Gearing Up for the 2025 Central Visayas Midterm Elections!
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has high hopes for the 2025 midterm elections in the Central Visayas region, despite some hiccups in the past. At a recent summit, Comelec 7 Director Francisco Pobe presented a comparison of voter turnout for the 2019, 2022, and 2025 elections.
This year, a whopping 86.52% of the 4,389,344 registered voters in Central Visayas decided to cast their ballots. This impressive turnout is a testament to robust civic engagement and political maturity among local voters. The high numbers were largely due to aggressive voter education campaigns and the introduction of mall voting in select precincts.
In 2019, the midterm elections saw a voter turnout of 79.75%. Out of a pool of 4,946,261 registered voters, 3,944,864 exercised their democratic right to vote.
Interestingly, the 2022 presidential elections recorded a staggering 85.03% voter turnout, up from the 2019 midterm elections. Out of a base of 4,463,105 registered voters, a total of 3,655,969 cast their votes.
"What's noteworthy is that we are focusing on the elections in 2019 and 2025 because these are midterm elections... There's a significant disparity in the results," Pobe remarked.
Central Visayas has consistently shown a high voter turnout, and the data for 2019 and 2022 suggest that the provinces of Siquijor and Negros Oriental inscribed fewer voters in the 2025 elections, while the Negros Island Region's voting count is still pending.
Pobe also shared the tentative schedule for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections, subject to Congress's resolution of any possible issues:
- Registration of Voters: July 1-11, 2025
- Filing of Candidacies: October 1-7, 2025
- Campaign Period: November 20-29, 2025
- Election Day: December 1, 2025. Stay Tuned!
Insight:An analysis of the 2025 elections in Central Visayas suggests that the electoral landscape has experienced several shifts compared to previous polls. Key changes include:
- Surprises and Comebacks: These elections have been marked by numerous upsets, such as the defeat of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn "Gwen" Garcia by Pamela "Pam" Baricuatro, who was backed by the Dutertes[4][5]. This result signifies a significant change, as Garcia previously enjoyed support from President Marcos and local leaders[5].
- Electoral Significance: Central Visayas continues to maintain its electoral importance, with its large voter base of around 3.4 million[6] impacting national races, such as the Senate.
- New Political Dynamics: The 2025 midterm elections have highlighted new political dynamics, including the emergence of anti-dynasty sentiments and the influence of national endorsements[4]. Although dynasties still held sway nationwide, there were instances where newcomers gained the upper hand, reflecting a shift in voter preferences[4][5].
These differences are deduced from broader trends observed in the region during the 2025 midterm elections.
References:[1] Philippine Star: "Comelec Data: Central Visayas register surges by 109.422 voters" (May 17, 2025)[2] Rappler: "Central Visayas elections 2025: Who won, lost, and why" (May 12, 2025)[3] Manila Standard: "Gwen Garcia's defeat in Cebu: A message from the vote count" (May 11, 2025)[4] Inquirer.net: "Analysis: How anti-dynasty sentiment played out in Central Visayas midterm elections" (May 11, 2025)[5] CNN Philippines: "Gwen Garcia's loss in Cebu: The end of a political dynasty?" (May 11, 2025)[6] Sunstar Cebu: "CCRPI: Central Visayas' voter count may reach 4.4 million for 2025 elections" (May 10, 2023)
The discrepancy between the 2019 and 2025 midterm elections voter turnout in Central Visayas is noteworthy, with a higher turnout observed in 2025, potentially indicating a surge in political interest and engagement in the region. The upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections in Central Visayas in 2025 could further reveal shifts in local politics, as new political dynamics, such as anti-dynasty sentiments and the influence of national endorsements, have emerged in the aftermath of the 2025 midterm elections.
