List of elections in the Philippines

Last updated

This is a list of elections and referendums held in the Philippines.

Contents

By type

General and local elections

For much of its history since 1935, the Philippines has been governed as a presidential unitary republic. The term "general election" is not predominantly used in the Philippines, but for the purposes of this article, a "general election" may refer to an election day where the presidency or at least a class of members of Congress are on the ballot. Since 1992, on presidential election days, the presidency, half of the Senate, the House of Representatives and all local officials above the barangay level, but below the regional level, are at stake. On a "midterm election", it's the same, except for the presidency is not at stake.

Local elections above the barangay level, but below the regional level, are synchronized with elections for national positions. From 1947 until 1971, these were scheduled in midterm election years.

Barangay elections are usually held separately from general and local elections.

YearTypePresidentUpper houseLower houseLocal (above barangay level)BarangayConstitutional Convention
1895 Municipal
1898 Revolutionary Congress
1899 President Local
1902 Local
1904 Local
1905 Local
1907 Philippine Assembly
1909 Philippine Assembly Local
1912 Philippine Assembly Local
1916 Legislative Senate House of Representatives Local
1919 Legislative Senate House of Representatives Local
1922 Legislative Senate House of Representatives Local
1925 Legislative Senate House of Representatives Local
1928 Legislative Senate House of Representatives Local
1931 Legislative Senate House of Representatives Local
1934 Legislative Senate House of Representatives Local Constitutional convention
1935 General President & vice president National Assembly
1937 Local
1938 National Assembly
1941 General President & vice president Senate House of Representatives Local
1943 National Assembly Local
1946 General President & vice president Senate House of Representatives
1947 Senate Local
1949 General President & vice president Senate House of Representatives
1951 Senate Local
1953 General President & vice president Senate House of Representatives
1955 Senate Local
1957 General President & vice president Senate House of Representatives
1959 Senate Local
1961 General President & vice president Senate House of Representatives
1963 Senate Local
1965 General President & vice president Senate House of Representatives
1967 Senate Local
1969 General President & vice president Senate House of Representatives
1970 Constitutional convention
1971 Senate Local
1975 Sangguniang Bayan Kabataang Barangay
1978 Parliament
1980 Local
1981 President
1982 Barangay
1984 Parliament
1986 President & vice president
1987 Legislative Senate House of Representatives
1988 Local
1989 Barangay
1992 General President & vice president Senate House of Representatives Local SK
1994 Barangay
1995 General Senate House of Representatives Local
1996 SK
1997 Barangay
1998 General President & vice president Senate House of Representatives Local
2001 General Senate House of Representatives Local
2002 Barangay & SK
2004 General President & vice president Senate House of Representatives Local
2007 General Senate House of Representatives Local Barangay & SK
2010 General President & vice president Senate House of Representatives Local Barangay & SK
2013 General Senate House of Representatives Local Barangay
2016 General President & vice president Senate House of Representatives Local
2018 Barangay & SK
2019 General Senate House of Representatives Local
2022 General President & vice president Senate House of Representatives Local
2023 Barangay & SK
2025 General Senate House of Representatives Local
2026 Barangay & SK

Regional elections

Regional elections are held for the autonomous regions. There had been four autonomous regions in the Philippines: Central Mindanao and Western Mindanao, then replaced by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), then the Bangsamoro that replaced it. Regional elections were not synchronized with general elections above, but on 2013 and 2016, they were. The 2016 election was the last ARMM election. After the approval of the Bangsamoro in a plebiscite, there was a transition period, and the first Bangsamoro election is expected to be held on 2022.

YearAutonomous region(s)Details
1979 Western Mindanao and Central Mindanao Details
1982 Western Mindanao and Central Mindanao Details
1990 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Details
1993 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Details
1996 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Details
2001 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Details
2005 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Details
2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Details
2013 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Details
2016 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Details
2025 Bangsamoro Details

National referendums

Referendums are on an ad hoc basis. Before 1973, these were mostly used on amending the constitution. Starting from martial law up to the People Power Revolution, referendums became more frequent. After the People Power Revolution, there had only been one national referendum, on the approval of the current constitution.

YearTypeBallot questionResultDetails
1935PlebisciteApproval of constitutionYes 96.47% Details
1937PlebisciteWomen's suffrageYes 90.94% Details
1939PlebisciteSetting up export tariffsYes 96.56% Details
1940PlebisciteCreation of a bicameral Congress Yes 79.14% Details
Re-election of president and vice presidentYes 81.67%
Creation of a Commission on Elections Yes 77.95%
1947 Plebiscite Approval of the Bell Trade Act Yes 78.89% Details
1967PlebisciteEnlarging the House of Representatives No 81.72% Details
Allowing members of Congress to serve in the Constitutional Convention without forfeiting their seatsNo 83.44%
1973PlebisciteAdopting the constitutionYes 90.67% Details
Calling a plebiscite to ratify the constitutionNo 90.96%
ReferendumAllow the president to continue beyond 1973 and finish the reforms under martial lawYes 90.67% Details
1975ReferendumApproval of the president's actionsYes 88.69% Details
Approval of the president continuing the same powersYes 87.51%
Selection of local officialsBy appointment 60.51%
1976ReferendumAllowing martial law to continueYes 90.95% Details
PlebisciteSubstituting the Regular Batasang Pambansa with the Interim Batasang Pambansa Yes 87.58%
1977ReferendumAllowing the president to continue in office after the organization of the Interim Batasang PambansaYes 89.27% Details
1981PlebisciteApproval of the modified parliamentary systemYes 79.53% Details
  • Prohibiting elected officials for being appointed except in the Executive Committee
  • Limiting accreditation of political parties to top two parties only
  • Prohibiting public officers from switching parties mid-term
Yes 78.95%
Allowing erstwhile natural-born citizens who lost citizenship to own landYes 77.55%
ReferendumHolding barangay elections after the 1981 presidential election Yes 81.09% Details
1984PlebisciteRedistricting the Batasang Pambansa to per city and provinceYes 83.94% Details
Abolishing the executive committee and restoring the vice presidencyYes 82.99%
Allowing indigents to possess public lands by grantsYes 69.25%
Undertaking an urban land reform programYes 68.59%
1987PlebisciteApproval of constitution Yes 77.04% Details

Recall elections

Only officials elected via the Local Government Code of 1991 can be recalled.

These are the recall elections above the barangay level:

YearLocationPosition recalledIncumbentResultWinnerDetails
1993 Bataan Governor Ding Roman Lost Tet Garcia Details
1997 Basilisa, Surigao del Norte MayorJesus Jariol Details
Vice mayorRomeo Ecleo
Six councilorsAniano Busmeon
Alberto Tubo
Juan Digal Jr.
Generoso Saren
Isidro Monesit
Saturnino Lanugon
Caloocan Mayor Rey Malonzo Won Rey Malonzo Details
2000 Lucena MayorBernard TagaraoLostRamon Talaga Jr. Details
Pasay Mayor Jovito Claudio Lost Wenceslao Trinidad Details
2002 Puerto Princesa, Palawan MayorDennis SocratesLost Edward Hagedorn Details
2003 Agoo, La Union Vice mayorRamil LopezLostShiela Milo Details
2015 Puerto Princesa MayorLucilo BayronWonLucilo Bayron Details

Special elections

Both chambers of Congress conduct special elections (known as "by-elections" elsewhere) once a seat becomes vacant.

The upcoming Bangsamoro Parliament can also hold special elections for vacancies for seats from its parliamentary districts.

A special election can also be called if the offices of president and vice president of the Philippines are vacant in the same time.

People's Initiatives

People's Initiative is a common appellative in the Philippines that refers to either a mode for constitutional amendment provided by the 1987 Philippine Constitution or to the act of pushing an initiative (national or local) allowed by the Initiative and Referendum Act of 1987. While the Supreme Court had declared amending the constitution via initiative as "fatally defective" and those inoperable, the Initiative and Referendum Act of 1987 can still be used to initiate initiatives for statues, ordinances and resolutions at the national and local level.

While there had been no referendums at the national level, this has been successfully implemented at the local level, particularly in barangays.

By date