Overvotes, sensitive ballots mar polling

Metro Manila, Philippines - A number of voters have raised concerns about sensitive ballots and invalidated votes because of ink smudges from shade marks on Monday, May 12.

Before noon, they shared on social media voting receipts that showed invalidated ballots due to overvotes.

Actor Khalil Ramos was among those who first raised the issue, reminding other voters to “be extra careful” when shading ballots.

“I pressed a bit too hard on the first page and it left marks on the back, right where the party-list section was. Sadly, my party-list vote was invalidated due to ‘overvoting.’ Don’t make the same mistake,” he said on an Instagram story.

Former actress Janice Jurado also posted a photo of her voting receipt which displays an “overvote” tag under the senator section. She said she only voted for 12 senators.

“Ang binoto ko na senators hindi lumabas. Ang nakalagay sa resibo overvote,” she said. “12 binoto ko, walang lumabas. Bigyan ninyo ng pansin itong nangyayari na ganito.”

[Translation: The senators I voted for did not reflect. What’s written on the receipt is overvote…I voted for 12, not one came out. Pay attention to these incidents.]

In an ambush interview, Commission on Elections Chair George Garcia said voters may have their rejected ballots exchanged for a new one but he did not specify if this included those who had “overvote” shown in their receipts.

“‘Pag di kasalanan ng botante maaring nasira yung timing marks sa gilid maaring napunit maaaring nabasa, papalitan naman yan,” he said.

[Translation: If it’s not the voter’s fault why timing marks on the side of the ballot might have been torn or soaked, it would have been replaced.]

Netizen Chaldea Ocampo, who also reported the same incident in Dasmarinas, Cavite during the early voting with her elderly father, said she approached an electoral board member and was only told to be more careful during the next voting season.

“‘Next time na lang po ulit [Try again next time],’” she quoted the poll worker as saying..

“Sayang ang binoto at pinila ng tatay ko. Nakakagalit kasi ramdam kong nasa tama kami [My father’s effort to stand in line and vote was wasted. It's infuriating because I know that we are in the right)]” she added.

Meanwhile, more than 5,000 incidents of alleged election violations have been reported during the 2025 midterm elections, independent poll watchdog Vote Report PH said on Monday.

Of the number, the group said they have verified 1,140 reports. It said 49 percent of reports were about errors in automated counting machines (ACM).

Data from Vote Report PH said 12 percent were about illegal campaigning, while eight percent were about disenfranchisement.

Other issues reported include BEI/EB non-compliance (7%), red-tagging (4%), vote buying or selling (3%), black propaganda and disinformation (2%), tampered ballots (2%), and election harassment (2%).

The Philippine National Police also reported election-related violence in several towns, including an armed encounter in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte which caused a five-hour delay in the opening of poll precincts.

https://www.newswatchplus.ph/news/2025/5/12/Violence-delays-polls-in-Datu-Odin-Sinsuat--Comelec-urged-to-extend-voting-hours.html

Voting period officially closed at 7 p.m.