OFWs may register for absentee voting before going abroad

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) plans to allow overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to register as absentee voters before leaving the country to enable them to vote in the 2013 polls.

Comelec is considering setting up registration booths in the country’s international airports to allow OFWs to register before their departure.

Comelec Commissioner Armando Velasco said they plan to put up field registration centers to encourage more OFWs to register and participate in absentee voting.

COMELEC Moves Start of OAV Registration

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced today that the resumption of overseas absentee voters’ (OAV) registration period will be moved to November 2, 2011 from October 31, 2011 as originally scheduled.

COMELEC Spokesman James Jimenez said the poll body had to move the start of the OAV list-up since Malacanan has already declared October 31, 2011 as a special non-working holiday to give full opportunity to the public to properly remember their dead “with all its religious fervor.”

“We wish to inform our overseas compatriots that they may register as overseas absentee voters starting November 2, 2011. Applications for registration shall be filed before authorized COMELEC representatives at Embassies and Consulates that has jurisdiction over the places they temporarily reside. Applicants need only present their valid Philippine passports or Seaman’s Book for seafarers when they register,” Jimenez said.

The COMELEC spokesman said OAV registration period will run from November 2, 2011 until October 31 of next year to give ample opportunity to qualified OAV voters abroad to exercise their right to suffrage.

The COMELEC has earlier said they are aiming for one million OAV registrants at the end of the registration period.