Updates on OAV and US elections

From migrant advocate, Ellene Sana, the happy news: 915,000 overseas Filipinos registered by the end of the registration period last October 31 – the highest turn out so far since the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) was implemented in 2004! While 85 thousand short of the 1M target, the present turn-out confirms for all that with vigilance and committed dissemination and encouragement from everyone, we may yet get all those millions of Filipino migrants to use their right and power of choice in future elections.

Another positive news shared by Ellene of the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA) are the amendments to the OAV law ( RA 9189) being introduced by Senator Koko Pimentel who delivered his sponsorship speech on Senate Bill 3312 that hopefully will encourage more overseas Filipinos to participate in the next elections, the nearest being the national elections in 2016.

These amendments include: (1) deletion of Sec 5d in Ra9189 which requires permanent residents and immigrants to execute an affidavit of intent to return to the Philippines and establish actual permanent physical residence in the country; (2) insertion of additional provision to authorize Comelec to explore and adopt other modes or systems for purposes of registration and voting including online systems; and, (3) to allow for the establishment of resident election registration boards in the post to institutionalize the OAV mechanism. Senators Escudero and Revilla are co-sponsoring this amended bill with Senator Koko Pimentel.

For those who are interested to see the full text of the speech of Senator Koko, please refer to the following website: http://centerformigrantadvocacy.com/resources/policy-and-public-advocacy-resources/policy-and-public-advocacy-2012/

The 3 authors of the OAV Law, Senators Angara, Drilon, and Sotto were scheduled to raise their questions about these amendments yesterday but hopefully, they will also support the move to improve this law so that more of our overseas Filipinos can be allowed to register and vote and participate in the selection of official for this country.

Ellene further shared that the committee report on SB 3312 was signed by the following members of the committee, Senators Pimentel, Revilla, Lacson, Legarda, Trillanes, Osmeña, Marcos, Escudero, Villar, Pia Cayetano, Estrada, Sotto and Alan Peter Cayetano, 13 all in all.

Ellene calls on all to stay vigilant till the amendments are finally incorporated in the bill to allow more of our millions of Filipino migrants to exercise their right and power to vote in all future elections for our country.

This article is being written in the midst of the very important elections in the United States. CNN is reporting exit polls and projections that show US President Barrack Obama as victor over his Republican rival Mitt Romney.

Not only will the outcome of the US elections be important for the Americans. The whole world will certainly be affected whoever will be elected as US President. Will all the votes be completely counted so that the whole world will know who will be the next US President today? 

For sure, today will be a new day for everyone all over the world.

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