Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are highly encouraged to register for the 2025 midterm elections as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) continues to prepare for the rollout of an internet voting system in at least 76 foreign posts.
OFW partylist Rep. Marissa Magsino issued this statement Tuesday, Jan. 30, upon receiving assurance from Comelec that an internet voting system for all eligible Filipino voters abroad will push through.
According to COMELEC, to confirm eligibility for the 2025 National Elections, OFWs need to verify their voter registration status. For those whose voter registration records have been deactivated due to non-participation in the past two elections, they need to reactivate their registration.
As of Jan. 15, 2024, COMELEC said it has around 1.096 million registered overseas voters. The registration period is open until Sept. 30, 2024 (Monday).
OFWs are encouraged to visit key registration centers to complete the necessary procedures and present their Philippine passport.
For those currently deployed overseas, they may visit the Philippine Embassy, Consulate General, or Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO-Taiwan) in their area.
In the Philippines, they may visit the extension office of the Comelec Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) in Intramuros, Manila; Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Consular Office NCR (Robinsons Galleria) in Pasig City; DFA Office of Consular Affairs – ASEANA Business Park in Parañaque City; Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in Mandaluyong City; Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) in Quezon City; and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in Manila.
“As COMELEC is geared up for internet voting for overseas voters, I encourage all our OFWs to maximize the opportunity to exercise their right to suffrage. But first, they must ensure that their registration status is in order,” Magsino said.
In January 2023, Magsino filed House Bill 6770 to allow internet voting for OFWs.
The bill seeks to amend the Overseas Voting Act of 2003 (Republic Act 10590) to allow voting via email, web-based portals, and/or other internet-based technologies deemed suitable by Comelec.
The party list lawmaker also joined technical working groups to finetune the policy on the proposed internet voting and participated in the internet voting demonstration organized by COMELEC with its technology providers.
“The OFWs can now easily exercise the right to vote for their country’s leaders and participate in this crucial process in nation-building,” Magsino said.