SEVEN months since the resumption of the overseas voter registration, less than 50,000 Filipinos based abroad have applied to become registered voters ahead of the 2025 midterm elections.
In a statement, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) disclosed that “since the opening of the reception of applications for overseas voter on 9 December 2022, the running total of registration turnout as of 6 July 2023 is 46,442.”
It said that the highest number of applicants are those in the North and Latin Americas with 16,851, followed by 11,011 applicants in the Middle East and Africas.
Comelec data also showed 8,921 applicants in Asia Pacific, and another 7,055 in Europe.
It added that 2,604 applicants filed with the Comelec – Office for Overseas Voting.
The Comelec set the filing period for the applications for overseas voter registration from 09 December 2022 to 30 September 2024.
And in a bid to help increase the number of registered overseas voters, the Comelec has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) for the re-establishment of the local field registration centers for overseas voting within the CFO premises.
Under the law, qualified to register as overseas voters are citizens of the Philippines abroad, those who are not otherwise disqualified by law, and those who are will be at least 18 years of age by 12 May 2025.
All applicants are required to accomplish the Overseas Voter Registration Form (OVF1) and bring the requirements, particularly their valid Philippine passport, or a certification issued by the Philippine post that it has received and reviewed the appropriate documents submitted by the applicant and found them sufficient to warrant the issuance of a passport, or that the applicant is a holder of a valid passport but is unable to produce the same for a valid reason, or in case of applicants who reacquired their Filipino citizenship, the original or certified true copy of the Order of Approval of their application to retain or reacquire their Filipino citizenship issued by Philippine post.
Filipino seafarers, on the other hand, are required to present a photocopy of Seafarer’s Book to be able to register.
Applications may be filed at any Philippine post abroad, or at designated registration centers outside the Philippine post, or at the designated registration centers in the Philippines.
