Comelec eases rule on absentee voting

MANILA, Philippines - Migrant Filipinos need not execute an affidavit of intent to return when they apply for voter’s registration, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez noted that such requirement in overseas absentee voting registration was removed under Republic Act 10590 or the Overseas Voting Act of 2013.

“This will allow Filipino immigrants to participate in Philippine elections,” he said.

Jimenez said the requirement  to execute an affidavit declaring that they shall resume permanent residence in the Philippines not later than three years from approval of their registration has been the “stumbling block” for Filipinos overseas to sign up for the elections.

In the May 13 polls, only 113,209 of the 737,759 overseas Filipino voters were able to vote, representing a turnout of 15.35 percent.

The low turnout was despite the expansion of the coverage of automated voting to include Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.

Data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration showed that the number of Filipino permanent residents abroad has reached 4,056,940 in 2009.

Filipinos abroad welcomed the provision in RA 10590 utilizing pre-departure orientation seminars to support overseas voter registration and voting process.