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Filipinos in Taiwan Vote Online in the Philippines' Midterm Elections
From a migrant shelter in New Taipei, Filipinos Mina Macaraeg and Robert Ganado are taking part in a historic first—voting via the internet in midterm elections in the Philippines more than 1,000 kilometers away.
Taiwan is one of 77 global locations selected to trial online voting for overseas Filipinos. The initiative aims to make the voting process easier but it has also raised concerns over security and transparency.
“It’s easy actually, it’s efficient, it’s quick, but at the same time there’s not that much guarantee of...transparency to it,” said Ganado, a student based in Taiwan.
Over 1 million Filipinos abroad, including about 50,000 in Taiwan, represent roughly 2% of the Philippine electorate. Previously, overseas voters had to mail physical ballots or vote in person at Philippine embassies and consulates. This year's election marks a significant shift, allowing voters to use their personal devices at designated kiosks, such as those set up at the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taipei, which serves as the Philippines' de facto embassy.
Concerns over potential electoral fraud and technical issues have been met by assurances from Philippine officials in Taipei.
“First and foremost, this is encrypted,” said Cesar L. Chavez Jr., vice-chair of MECO’s Special Board of Canvassers. “This does not depend on [the] internet. There are two contractors: one is doing the operational [side], and there is another independent contractor acting as a check and balance on the system.”
Still, voters remain divided. Some have reported glitches preventing them from selecting their preferred candidates. Another point of anxiety is that ballots are hidden behind encrypted QR codes, only accessible at the conclusion of voting.
“You cannot check [if you cast the correct vote]. Meanwhile, if you write it on paper, you can really see [the receipt],” said Joel Paca, a Filipino migrant worker.
Others express cautious optimism.
“For me, I also have doubts,” said Irene Salazar, another migrant worker. “But let’s just trust the process for what is the best because it’s the responsibility of every Filipino to vote.”
Philippine elections have frequently been marred by irregularities and allegations of fraud. Election watchdog groups, such as Kontra Daya ("Against Fraud"), are open to online voting but emphasize the need for increased transparency.
“Do we welcome it? Definitely,” said Danilo Arao of Kontra Daya. “But there has to be transparency and predictability in the process. Similar to the automated counting machines, we demand genuine source code reviews for internet voting. Between proprietary software and open source, we prefer open source.”
The Philippines’ electoral commission aims for 50% participation from overseas voters, yet with only days remaining, just 12% of eligible Filipino voters in Taiwan have cast a ballot. Election experts stress that glitches and limited voter education must be urgently addressed to ensure online voting improves, rather than undermines, democratic participation.
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