Youth vote credited for historic turnout in 2025 midterm polls

The youth vote came out almost in full force during the May 2025 midterm elections, helping drive the highest voter turnout ever recorded for a non-presidential race, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

- By DHEL NAZARIO

According to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, the May 2025 midterm elections recorded an estimated 81.65 percent voter turnout based on initial unofficial figures.

Garcia attributed this historic turnout—55.87 million out of 68.43 million registered voters—to the strong participation of young voters and heightened public awareness in the lead-up to the elections.

"Based on our initial observations, the youth really turned out in large numbers to vote," he said during a press briefing on Thursday, May 15.

He noted that while voter participation was high across all age groups, the surge in youth involvement played a key role in mobilizing the electorate.