7.5M ballots deployed in Metro Manila as May 12 election nears

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is nearly all set for the May 12, 2025 elections, with final preparations underway including the delivery of around 7.5 million ballots to Metro Manila.

Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia said Tuesday that the distribution of ballots for the National Capital Region (NCR) will be completed by May 7, the same day the final testing and sealing of automated counting machines (ACMs) is scheduled.

"Ngayong araw na 'to sisimulan na natin ang huling shipment, huling delivery ng mga balota. Sa NCR ito mangyayari," Garcia said.

Yesterday, the ballots were already delivered to Caloocan, Marikina, Pasig, Valenzuela, Quezon City, Malabon, Navotas, and San Juan. Meanwhile, Muntinlupa, Pateros, Taguig, Manila, Makati, Pasay, Las Piñas, Mandaluyong, and Parañaque will receive their ballots today, Wednesday.

Once received by each city's treasurer's office, the ballots will be turned over to electoral boards for distribution to polling precincts. This process will begin on Sunday, May 11, and continue into the early hours of election day on May 12.

To ensure the security and integrity of election materials, Garcia emphasized that all ballots are properly sealed, serialized, and accounted for. The delivery vehicles are equipped with tracking systems and are accompanied by police escorts.

Comelec printed a total of 68,542,564 official ballots – slightly fewer than the original 72 million – due to the postponement of the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections from May 12 to October 13.