Dubai: As the overseas absentee voting opens today, Filipino expatriates across the globe will be able to cast their first official ballots in the Philippine national elections.
The month-long overseas absentee voting — the third to be held in the nation's political history — will enable Filipinos to take time off from work to cast their votes.
Factfile: The Philippine elections
While this year's elections will be the country's first to be automated, overseas absentee voting will still be done manually, either through personal voting or by mail.
Guide: Absentee voting process in Dubai
Fact file: The automated voting process
Only those registered to vote in Hong Kong and Singapore will be able to use the automated voting systems or precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines.
The Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Foreign Affairs selected the aforementioned countries due to their proximity to the Philippines and a large number of registered overseas absentee voters (OAVs) who were qualified to vote there.
The UAE, which ranks second to Saudi Arabia in the number of OAVs in the Middle East, has 47,683 voters — of which, 17,041 were registered in the Embassy in Abu Dhabi while 30,642 were listed in the Consulate in Dubai, Adelio Cruz, First Secretary in the Embassy, who is also in charge of the voting in Abu Dhabi, said.
Alternatives
Another 140,832 Filipinos in 47 countries will vote by mail. They were sent official ballots and other election paraphernalia in mailing packets, which should be filled up by the voter upon receipt and returned to the post of the country where they would be counted.
Republic Act 9189 or the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003 limits the voting only for president, vice-president, senators and party-list representatives.
OAVs, therefore, cannot vote in the local elections which are held simultaneously with the national elections.
The voting period is from April 10 to May 10.
A Consulate announcement said that the voting precincts will be open daily from 8.30am to 4.30pm, except on the last day when voting will be from 8.30am to 2pm — to coincide with the 6pm closing of voting in the Philippines.
Encouragement
"All Filipinos who registered and whose names are included in the certified list of OAVs are strongly encouraged to cast their ballots… on the stated period," the consulate's announcement said.
Vice-consul Edwin Mendoza told Gulf News that voters will not be required to present their voter's ID card.
"It is not mandatory to present a Comelec [voter's] ID. We will only require the voters to present an original identification card with their photographs and signatures, but of course, the passport is the best ID," he said in a telephone interview.
Mendoza added that in extreme cases when a voter cannot present a valid ID card, he or she will still be allowed to cast a ballot. The voter however, will be asked to take an oath on his identity.
"As long as their names, pictures, signature and biometrics are on the certified voters' list, they can vote. We want people to exercise their constitutionally-mandated right as long as they are qualified to do so," he said, adding that if a voter fails to prove his identity, he will not be allowed to vote.
Seafarers, registered as OAVs, who will be in the UAE during the voting period may cast their ballots in the Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate in Dubai.
The Consulate will have six polling precincts to be manned by consular officials and staff as well as Filipino community volunteers who will serve as election inspectors.
Unused ballots
Under the Comelec resolution, election inspectors are required to count and record the number of unused ballots at the end of each voting day. The inspectors and watchers present are also required to sign the status report.
The report, along with the unused ballots and other election documents and paraphernalia, will be placed and sealed inside the ballot receptacle and election materials box.
Votes will be counted on May 10, the results of which will immediately be transmitted to the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
Overseas Absentee Voting Act
The Overseas Absentee Voting Act, officially known as the Republic Act number 9189, is a law passed on February 13, 2003 which allows Filipinos — currently residing or working outside of the Philippines — to vote in an election. This act is implemented by the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec) with the help of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Overseas absentee voters (OAVs) may only participate in the election of a President, Vice-President, Senators and Party-List Representatives.
Who are qualified to vote
- Filipino citizens, not otherwise disqualified by law.
- At least 18-years of age as of May 10, 2010.
- Registered as an overseas absentee voter (OAV).
Voting period
OAVs may cast their votes from April 10 to 10 May 2010 from 8.30am to 4.30pm every day, except on the last day (May 10) when voting will be from 8.30am to 2pm to coincide with the closing hour (6pm) in the Philippines.
Modes of voting
- Personal Voting - OAVs whose application to vote in absentia has been approved shall cast their ballots personally at any time within the voting period. This is the mode of voting to be implemented in the Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai.
- Voting By Mail - Electoral mails are sent by the Commission on Election (Comelec) directly to the OAVs, based on their addresses registered in the Certified List of OAVs database. Voters will receive a packet that contains the ballot and envelopes to seal and send/deliver the ballot. It also contains a certified list of candidates and instructions on how to cast their votes.
- Modified Voting By Mail - Electoral mails are sent by the Comelec directly to the Foreign Service Posts (embassies and consulates) . These in turn will distribute the electoral mails to the OAVs.
Key information
For more information on overseas absentee voting, please visit the Comelec website at www.comelec.gov.ph. Read special coverage of the Philippine elections
Will you be voting? How do you keep track of developments in the Philippines while living in the UAE?
