CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) revealed that more than one million registered voters in Central Luzon did not vote during the 2019 and 2022 National and Local Elections.
Comelec Assistant Regional Election Director Elmo Duque said the region’s average voter turnout during both polls was only around 85 to 86 percent, leaving roughly 15 percent of registered voters who failed to cast their votes
“Many people do not see this, but it has a huge impact. That one million practically represents about 15 percent of our registered voters who are not participating in the electoral process,” he stressed.
Duque cited several factors behind the low voter turnout, including migration due to work, the priority given to holiday pay and overtime earnings, and failure to transfer voter registration after relocating.
He also noted that, in some cases, voters may have been paid to abstain from voting, which is an illegal practice under election laws.
These, he said, are among the possible factors contributing to the percentage of non-participation.
For the upcoming 2025 midterm elections, Central Luzon has a total of 7,699,404 registered voters.
With this, Comelec urges the public to fully exercise their right to vote, emphasizing that every vote counts in shaping national and local leadership.
“One will make the difference. So, that one million has a huge impact on our future national and local leaders… That is a decisive factor in determining who the real majority is—who the people truly want. So, it has a huge impact, which is why we are appealing to everyone to go out and vote,” Duque pressed.
He also warned that low voter participation could lead to the election of unfit leaders, especially when responsible voters fail to take part in the process.
Furthermore, Comelec assured the public of Central Luzon’s readiness for the upcoming midterm elections on May 12, with the crucial support of its partner agencies in ensuring the peaceful, fair, and orderly conduct of the polls. (CLJD/MAECR, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)
