2025 Philippine Election Timelines: Key Dates and Prohibited Acts Guide

Below is a comprehensive guide in table format outlining the 2025 Philippine Election Timelines, key dates and events, along with the corresponding prohibited acts based on the “Calendar of Activities and Periods of Certain Prohibited Acts in Connection with the May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections” as issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) under Comelec Resolution No. 10999.

Date/Period	Activities	Prohibited Acts
May 12, 2024 to August 12, 2025		Transfer, promotion, extension, recall, or otherwise movement of officer or member of the foreign service corps including those belonging to attached agencies.
December 27, 2024 (Friday)	Last day to submit to the Bangsamoro Electoral Office (BEO) the Sectoral Election Mechanisms by the Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIP), Traditional Leaders, and ‘Ulama.
January 6, 2025 (Monday) to February 14, 2025 (Friday)	Period to conduct the first level of internal party elections for sectoral representatives in the Parliament by registered and accredited PSOs.
January 12, 2025 (Sunday)	Last day to file petition for inclusion of voters in the permanent list of voters.
January 17, 2025 (Friday) to January 31, 2025 (Friday)	Constitution of Special Boards of Election Inspectors (SBEIS), Special Ballot Reception and Custody Groups (SBRCGS) and Special Boards of Canvassers (SBOCs) for overseas voting.
February 1, 2025 (Saturday)	Last day to file petition for the exclusion of voters in the permanent list of voters.
February 6, 2025 (Thursday)	Last day for the Election Registration Board (ERB) Meeting to certify the list of voters.
February 11, 2025 (Tuesday) to May 10, 2025 (Saturday)	Campaign period for candidates for Senator and party-list groups participating in the party-list system of representation.	Use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidate, unless authorized in writing by the Commission.
		Alteration of territory of a precinct or establishment of a new precinct.
		Transfer or detail of officers and employees in the civil service, except upon prior approval of the Commission.
		Organization or maintenance of reaction forces, strike forces, or similar forces.
		Suspension of elective provincial, city, municipal, or barangay officer without prior approval of the Commission.
February 15, 2025 (Saturday) to April 4, 2025 (Friday)	Period to conduct assemblies of registered and accredited Women, Settler Communities, and Youth PSOs for the elections of Women, Settler Communities, and Youth Sectoral Representatives in the Parliament.
March 7, 2025 (Friday)	Last day to post notice of the date, time, and place of final testing and sealing of Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) for overseas voting.
March 10, 2025 (Monday)	Last day to notify the SBEIS concerned of the date, time, and place of the final testing and sealing of the ACMs for overseas voting.
March 13, 2025 (Thursday) to June 11, 2025 (Wednesday)	Last day for the Commission En Banc to approve the Certified List of Overseas Voters (CLOV) and furnish copies to the Philippine embassies, consulates, and other foreign service establishments abroad.
March 28, 2025 (Friday) to May 11, 2025 (Sunday)	Campaign period for candidates for Member, House of Representatives, and parliamentary, provincial, city, municipal officials.	Giving donations by candidate, his or her spouse, or any relative within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, or his campaign manager, agent, or representative.
		Appointment or use of special policemen, confidential agents, or persons performing similar functions.
		Illegal release of prisoners.
April 1, 2025 (Tuesday)	Last day to post notice of the date, time, and place of final testing and sealing of ACMs for overseas voting.
April 6, 2025 (Sunday) to April 12, 2025 (Saturday)	Final testing and sealing of the ACMs for overseas voting in Posts using ACMs.
April 12, 2025 (Saturday)	Last day to designate the place of voting for the local absentee voters who are government officials and employees.

The provisions of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines cited in the column “Prohibited Acts” are as follows:

1. Section 35, 2nd paragraph, R.A. No. 9189, as amended by R.A. No. 10590, otherwise known as ‘The Overseas Voting Act of 2013’: Transfer, promotion, extension, recall, or otherwise movement of officer or member of the foreign service corps including those belonging to attached agencies.
2. Section 261 (g) (1) of the Omnibus Election Code: Appointment or hiring of new employees, creation of new positions, filling of new positions in a government office, agency, or instrumentality, whether national or local, including government-owned or controlled corporations, except upon prior authority of the Commission.
3. Section 261 (g) (2) of the Omnibus Election Code: Promotion or giving of salary increases, remuneration, or privileges to any government official or employee, including those in government-owned or controlled corporations.
4. Section 261 (m) of the Omnibus Election Code: Appointment or use of special policemen, confidential agents, or persons performing similar functions.
5. Section 261 (n) of the Omnibus Election Code: Illegal release of prisoners.
6. Section 261 (u) of the Omnibus Election Code: Organization or maintenance of reaction forces, strike forces, or similar forces.
7. Section 261 (x) of the Omnibus Election Code: Suspension of elective provincial, city, municipal, or barangay officer without prior approval of the Commission.
8. Section 261 (cc) (6) of the Omnibus Election Code: Soliciting votes or undertaking any propaganda for or against any candidate or any political party within the polling place or within thirty (30) meters thereof.
9. Section 261 (dd) (2) of the Omnibus Election Code: Opening of booths or stalls of any kind for the sale, dispensing, or display of wares, merchandise, or refreshments, whether solid or liquid, or for any other purposes, within thirty (30) meters radius from the polling place.
10. Section 261 (dd) (3) of the Omnibus Election Code: Holding of fairs, cockfights, boxing, horse races, jai-alai, or any other similar sports.
11. Section 261 (v) of the Omnibus Election Code: Release, disbursement or expenditures of public funds, except those enumerated in Section 261 (v) of the Omnibus Election Code.
12. Section 261 (w): Construction of public works, delivery of materials for public works except for projects or works exempted in Section 261 (v) of the Omnibus Election Code.

These provisions outline various prohibited acts during the election period as specified in the Omnibus Election Code and special laws. These prohibited acts are considered election offenses under the OEC. The penalty for the commission of an election offense is specified under Section 264 of the Omnibus Election Code, to wit:

Section 264. Penalties. —

Any person found guilty of any election offense under this Code shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years and shall not be subject to probation. In addition, the guilty party shall be sentenced to suffer disqualification to hold public office and deprivation of the right of suffrage. If he is a foreigner, he shall be sentenced to deportation which shall be enforced after the prison term has been served. Any political party found guilty shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than ten thousand pesos, which shall be imposed upon such party after criminal action has been instituted in which their corresponding officials have been found guilty. (Sec. 181, 1978 EC)

In case of prisoner or prisoners illegally released from any penitentiary or jail during the prohibited period as provided in Section 261, paragraph (n) of this Code, the director of prisons, provincial warden, keeper of the jail or prison, or persons who are required by law to keep said prisoner in their custody shall, if convicted by a competent court, be sentenced to suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its maximum period if the prisoner or prisoners so illegally released commit any act of intimidation, terrorism of interference in the election. (Sec. 79, 1971 EC)

Any person found guilty of the offense of failure to register or failure to vote shall, upon conviction, be fined one hundred pesos. In addition, he shall suffer disqualification to run for public office in the next succeeding election following his conviction or be appointed to a public office for a period of one year following his conviction. (Sec. 181, 1978 EC)

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is the period during which the movement of government officials is prohibited for the 2025 Philippine Elections?

The transfer, promotion, extension, recall, or otherwise movement of government officials is prohibited from May 12, 2024 to August 12, 2025.

When is the last day to submit petitions for the inclusion of voters in the permanent list?

The last day to file a petition for inclusion of voters in the permanent list is January 12, 2025.

What activities are allowed during the campaign period for candidates for Senator and party-list groups?

The campaign period for candidates for Senator and party-list groups runs from February 11, 2025, to May 10, 2025. However, candidates must not use security personnel or bodyguards unless authorized.

What is one of the prohibited acts related to campaign donations?

Giving donations by a candidate, their spouse, or any relative within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity during the campaign period for Members of the House of Representatives is a prohibited act.

When does the final testing and sealing of Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) for overseas voting occur?

The final testing and sealing of ACMs for overseas voting will take place from April 6, 2025, to April 12, 2025.

What penalties are imposed under the Omnibus Election Code for election offenses?

Any person found guilty of any election offense under the Omnibus Election Code shall face penalties as outlined in Section 264. This includes penalties for illegal release of prisoners and failure to register.

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