By Junex Doronio
TAKING NOTICE that only about 40 percent of the estimated 1.7 million overseas Filipino qualified voters were able to vote in past electoral exercises, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is now eyeing to implement internet voting for Filipinos based abroad in the upcoming 2025 midterm polls
On Wednesday, November 22, Comelec Chairman George Garcia explained that this move is aimed to increase the voter turnout and to make it more convenient for overseas Pinoy voters.
“Para sa 2025, regardless whether there is law or not, the Comelec is pursuing internet voting for overseas Filipinos,” disclosed Garcia during the Updates on Political Party Institutionalization and the 2025 National and Local Elections conference held at The Bayleaf Intramuros in Manila.
He added that despite the 2022 polls’ seeing the highest overseas voting numbers, they were still less than half of the registered Filipino voters abroad.
“That’s very important. Kasi ang botante abroad in 2022 ay 1.697 million pero ang nakaboto, 40.59 percent lang. That’s about 670,000 but it’s the highest in the history of overseas voting, highest pa po ‘yon,” Garcia noted.
Presently, there are two ways of voting for Filipinos abroad.
The first option is for the voter to go to the Philippine embassy or consulate to cast his or her vote.
And the second option is through the mail, wherein the embassy or the consulate sends the official ballot to the voter, who then mails it back to the diplomatic post.
(AI/MNM)
