Comelec to ask Congress to allow Internet voting for OFWs

The Commission on Elections is considering the idea of internet registration and voting for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

In an interview, Commissioner Armando Velasco told reporters Sunday the poll body is looking at the possibility of allowing Filipinos abroad to register and vote through the internet from the convenience of their home or office.

“Actually, one problem kasi sa low participation is yung convenience eh. If we can address yung kanilang convenience, I believe they will participate,” he said.

The poll body receives a number of registrants for overseas absentee voting, but only a small portion of this actually vote.

At the 2004 national polls, there were 359,296 registered overseas absentee voters but only 233,137 voted; at the 2007 midterm polls, the registered OAVs increased to 504,124 but only 81,732 overseas Filipinos voted; and during the 2010 automated national polls, the number of OAV registrants jumped a little to 589,830 but only 153,323 voted.

Velasco said more are likely to participate if they could from their homes and offices. The current law allows only personal or postal voting.

He noted that even the House of Representatives approved of the idea of Internet registration and voting if Comelec could secure the system against hacking.

So far there is no law that allows Internet registration and voting among OFWs, but the Velasco, who is the head of OAV, urged for the amendment of Republic Act 9189 or the OAV law.

“Wala kasi sa batas e (There is no law yet), so there must be an amendment to the law to include the use of Internet,” he stressed.

The OAV registration for the 2013 midterm elections will start on October 31, 2011 and end on October 31, 2012.

RA 9189 clearly states that “All citizens of the Philippines abroad, regardless of their immigration status, can participate I Philippine elections via the OAV.”

In Section 8 of the law, OFWs registrants are required to furnish a valid Philippine passport; accomplished registration form prescribed by the Commission containing that 1) last known residence of the applicant in the Philippines before leaving for abroad; 2) address of applicant abroad, or forwarding address in the case of seafarers; and 3) where voting by mail is allowed, the applicant’s mailing address outside the Philippines where the ballot for absentee voters will be sent.


by Pots de Leon, InterAksyon.com