This is a list of elections and referendums held in the Philippines.
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. Year Type President Upper house Lower house Local (above barangay level) Barangay Constitutional Convention 1895Municipal1898Revolutionary Congress1899PresidentLocal1902Local1904Local1905Local1907Philippine Assembly1909Philippine AssemblyLocal1912Philippine AssemblyLocal1916LegislativeSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocal1919LegislativeSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocal1922LegislativeSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocal1925LegislativeSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocal1928LegislativeSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocal1931LegislativeSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocal1934LegislativeSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocalConstitutional convention1935GeneralPresident & vice presidentNational Assembly1937Local1938National Assembly1941GeneralPresident & vice presidentSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocal1943National AssemblyLocal1946GeneralPresident & vice presidentSenateHouse of Representatives1947SenateLocal1949GeneralPresident & vice presidentSenateHouse of Representatives1951SenateLocal1953GeneralPresident & vice presidentSenateHouse of Representatives1955SenateLocal1957GeneralPresident & vice presidentSenateHouse of Representatives1959SenateLocal1961GeneralPresident & vice presidentSenateHouse of Representatives1963SenateLocal1965GeneralPresident & vice presidentSenateHouse of Representatives1967SenateLocal1969GeneralPresident & vice presidentSenateHouse of Representatives1970Constitutional convention1971SenateLocal1975Sangguniang BayanKabataang Barangay1978Parliament1980Local1981President1982Barangay1984Parliament1986President & vice president1987LegislativeSenateHouse of Representatives1988Local1989Barangay1992GeneralPresident & vice presidentSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocalSK1994Barangay1995GeneralSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocal1996SK1997Barangay1998GeneralPresident & vice presidentSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocal2001GeneralSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocal2002Barangay & SK2004GeneralPresident & vice presidentSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocal2007GeneralSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocalBarangay & SK2010GeneralPresident & vice presidentSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocalBarangay & SK2013GeneralSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocalBarangay2016GeneralPresident & vice presidentSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocal2018Barangay & SK2019GeneralSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocal2022GeneralPresident & vice presidentSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocal2023Barangay & SK2025GeneralSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocal2028GeneralPresident & vice presidentSenateHouse of RepresentativesLocalBarangay & 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 2026. YearAutonomous region(s)Details1979Western Mindanao and Central MindanaoDetails1982Western Mindanao and Central MindanaoDetails1990Autonomous Region in Muslim MindanaoDetails1993Autonomous Region in Muslim MindanaoDetails1996Autonomous Region in Muslim MindanaoDetails2001Autonomous Region in Muslim MindanaoDetails2005Autonomous Region in Muslim MindanaoDetails2008Autonomous Region in Muslim MindanaoDetails2013Autonomous Region in Muslim MindanaoDetails2016Autonomous Region in Muslim MindanaoDetails2026BangsamoroDetails
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 questionResultDetails1935PlebisciteApproval of constitution 96.47%Details1937PlebisciteWomen's suffrage 90.94%Details1939PlebisciteSetting up export tariffs 96.56%Details1940PlebisciteCreation of a bicameral Congress 79.14%DetailsRe-election of president and vice president 81.67%Creation of a Commission on Elections 77.95%1947PlebisciteApproval of the Bell Trade Act 78.89%Details1967PlebisciteEnlarging the House of Representatives 81.72%DetailsAllowing members of Congress to serve in the Constitutional Convention without forfeiting their seats 83.44%1973PlebisciteAdopting the constitution 90.67%DetailsCalling a plebiscite to ratify the constitution 90.96%ReferendumAllow the president to continue beyond 1973 and finish the reforms under martial law 90.67%Details1975ReferendumApproval of the president's actions 88.69%DetailsApproval of the president continuing the same powers 87.51%Selection of local officials1976ReferendumAllowing martial law to continue 90.95%DetailsPlebisciteSubstituting the Regular Batasang Pambansa with the Interim Batasang Pambansa 87.58%1977ReferendumAllowing the president to continue in office after the organization of the Interim Batasang Pambansa 89.27%Details1981PlebisciteApproval of the modified parliamentary system 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 78.95%Allowing erstwhile natural-born citizens who lost citizenship to own land 77.55%ReferendumHolding barangay elections after the 1981 presidential election 81.09%Details1984PlebisciteRedistricting the Batasang Pambansa to per city and province 83.94%DetailsAbolishing the executive committee and restoring the vice presidency 82.99%Allowing indigents to possess public lands by grants 69.25%Undertaking an urban land reform program 68.59%1987PlebisciteApproval of constitution 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 recalledIncumbentResultWinnerDetails1993BataanGovernorDing RomanTet GarciaDetails1997Basilisa, Surigao del NorteMayorJesus JariolDetailsVice mayorRomeo EcleoSix councilorsAniano BusmeonAlberto TuboJuan Digal Jr.Generoso SarenIsidro MonesitSaturnino LanugonCaloocanMayorRey MalonzoRey MalonzoDetails2000LucenaMayorBernard TagaraoRamon Talaga Jr. DetailsPasayMayorJovito ClaudioWenceslao TrinidadDetails2002Puerto Princesa, PalawanMayorDennis SocratesEdward HagedornDetails2003Agoo, La UnionVice mayorRamil LopezShiela MiloDetails2015Puerto PrincesaMayorLucilo BayronLucilo BayronDetails
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
External links Official website of the Commission on Elections