FIVE Philippine posts will experience delays in the month-long overseas voting for the May 2022 polls after the poll paraphernalia and supplies needed failed to arrive on time.
In a social media post, the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) said the Philippine Consulate General in New York and four other Philippine posts cannot start voting as scheduled “due to logistical difficulties encountered in the shipment of the election materials.”
The four others are the Philippine Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand; Philippine Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan; Philippine Embassy in Dili, Timor-Leste; and Philippine Consulate General in Milan, Italy.
Overseas voting in these posts, originally set to start April 10, will start “at a late date,” the Comelec said.
Data shows the Philippine Embassy in Wellington has a total of 29,304 registered voters while the Philippine Embassy in Islamabad has 591 registered voters. There are 706 registered voters in the Philippine Embassy in Dili; 15,896 voters in the Philippine Consulate General in Milan; and 39,315 voters in the Philippine Consulate General in New York.
Also in the list is the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai, China but the delay was caused by the prevailing COVID-19 lockdown there. There are a total of 1,991 registered overseas voters in the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai.
Overseas voting for the May 2022 polls will run until May 9, with voters casting votes for president, vice-president, senators, and party-list representatives.
The Comelec-OFOV also reminded candidates and political parties that campaigning is prohibited during the month-long overseas voting period.
“Campaigning abroad is prohibited until May 9 within Philippine embassies, consulates, and other posts, where overseas voters may exercise their right to vote,” said the Comelec-OFOV.
