Comelec eyes more voter registration machines for OAVs

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is eyeing to put two voter registration machines (VRM) in every Philippine post abroad for overseas absentee voters (OAVs).

Comelec Commissioner Armando Velasco said the installation of two VRMs would speed up the registration system, especially in areas like Hong Kong and Singapore where the bulk of OAVs is.

Velasco said it usually takes five to 10 minutes to get the biometrics data of registrants, and if many are signing up to vote, they will have to wait for hours before being able to register.

“Baka magalit na ang mga OFWs non… Yong iba dyan baka hindi maghihintay ng ilang oras para mag-register (They might get angry. The others may not be willing to wait for hours to register),” said Velasco, also chairman of the committee on OAVs. 

He explained that by having more VRMs, the Comelec would be able to encourage Filipinos abroad to register and vote in the 2013 polls.

The Comelec, however, still has to look for funding as Congress rejected its proposal for the budget for OAV.

Earlier, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) had asked the Comelec to improve its registration system to lure overseas Filipinos to participate in elections.

Namfrel also reported that the requirement for OAVs to submit an affidavit to assure the Philippine government that they would return to the country within three years after registration is also discouraging them to register and vote.

The requirement is contained in Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003.

The Comelec aims to register one million OAVs for the 2013 polls, double the 589,830 overseas Filipinos who registered in May 2010. 

Records showed that of the number, only 153,323 actually voted.