Comelec starts training program for OAVs

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) kicked off its training programs for the resumption of continuing registration for overseas absentee voting (OAV) among diplomatic personnel posted in the Middle East, an official said yesterday.

In a statement, Comelec Commissioner Elias Yusoph noted that the poll body and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) have emphasized the importance of overseas Filipinos’ participation in the OAV system, not just to the voter but also to his family back home.

“Voting is an exercise of the higher duty you owe to the families you left behind: that is, to select and elect the rightful leaders who will decide, not only on their present state of living, but also on the more delicate issues concerning their future,” he said.

The Comelec will hold the registration of voters from Oct. 31, 2011 to Oct. 31, 2012. It is hoping to register some one million Filipinos abroad for the 2013 midterm elections.

In the May 2010 polls, there were 589,830 registered overseas absentee voters.            

Some 225,148 of them were in the Middle East; 215,546 were in Asia; 66,745 were in the Americas while 61,294 were in Europe. A total of 21,097 were seafarers.

Out of all the OAV voters, only 153,323 have actually voted and a majority of them were in Asia.

Yusoph encouraged all Filipinos abroad to participate in the electoral processes.

“Your patriotism will find its reward once again should we have a higher turnout of registration this year and the voting in 2013. Please register and vote,” he said.