MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) commenced the printing of 73 million official ballots on January 6, 2025, at the National Printing Office (NPO) in Quezon City, marking a significant step in preparations for the May 12, 2025, National and Local Elections (NLE) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections (BPE).

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia detailed the allocation of the ballots: over 68 million are designated for the NLE, with the remaining ballots allocated for the BPE, overseas voting, and local absentee voting.

The printing process is scheduled to span 77 days, with an average production rate of approximately one million ballots per day.
The initial batches to be printed include ballots for overseas voting, local absentee voting, test ballots, and those for the BPE, with the National Capital Region (NCR) ballots scheduled for the latter part of the printing timeline.

Each ballot is precinct-specific, enhancing security and ensuring that ballots are only valid in their designated precincts.
The NPO is utilizing advanced HP PageWide Advantage 2200 machines, each capable of printing up to 950,000 ballots daily.
These machines feature an automated in-line system that streamlines the printing process by cutting and stacking ballots for each precinct, thereby improving efficiency and accuracy.

To ensure transparency, the Comelec has implemented measures such as live streaming the printing process from day one, allowing the public to observe and maintain trust in the electoral process.

This initiative underscores the Comelec’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the upcoming elections.