WITH the forthcoming introduction of the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is modifying its guidelines on how to create and cluster precincts for overseas voting in the 2025 midterm polls.
In Resolution No. 10986, the Comelec en banc established the guidelines on how to establish clustered precincts for posts using the OVCS and those using the Automated Counting Machines (ACMs), both personal and postal voting.
The Comelec said there are currently 93 foreign service posts for overseas voting and registration. Of this, 76 posts will adopt the OVCS while 17 will use ACM voting.
“The 93 posts covering different countries/areas under their jurisdictions and with their respective modes of voting, will warrant the clustering of precincts overseas to ensure the successful, credible, peaceful, accessible, and safe conduct of the 2025 NLE,” the poll body said.
For foreign service posts that cover only one country and use the OVCS, only one precinct will be established, regardless of the number of registered overseas voters.
For posts with multiple countries or jurisdiction, one precinct per country will be set up. On the other hand, the Comelec said posts that will use the ACM voting mode will have clustered precincts with 2,000 or less voters per country or jurisdiction.
“In all scenario, each post shall transmit its election results directly to the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC),” said the poll body.
The Comelec said the Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) has until December 16 to submit the final Project of Precincts (POPs) to the Commission en banc for final approval.
