Comelec Looks Into Another Extension of Overseas Voter Registration

In areas where many Filipinos have yet to register.
Photo/s: Jerome Ascaño

The Commission on Elections on Monday said it would look into suggestions to extend further the voter registration for overseas Filipinos in select areas.

Proposals to extend the overseas registration period, which ended last Oct. 14, will be included in the agenda of the Commission en banc meeting on Wednesday, Comelec chair Sheriff Abas told senators during their budget hearing.

"Pag-uusapan namin kung kaya pa namin i-stretch yung sa OFOV (Office of Overseas Voting). Stretched na stretched na siya pero i-try pa rin namin," he said.

Abas gave the assurance after Sen. Imee Marcos, who chairs the Senate electoral reforms committee, appealed for an extension of the overseas voter registration for at least two weekends in consulates with many overseas Filipinos.

She specifically cited Hong Kong and Macau where she said thousands of Filipinos have yet to register.

"I reiterate this plea that we extend for at least two weekends in the consulates with the most Filipinos and allow overseas workers to vote," Marcos said.

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Abas said it might be a good idea to just extend the overseas voter extension in areas where many Filipinos are still unregistered.

"Baka pwede pa naming gawan ng paraan," he said.

The Comelec previously extended the overseas voter registration to Oct. 14 from Sept. 30 as it heeded calls to move the deadline to allow more eligible voters to sign up. Local voter registration was also extended until Oct. 30.

REGISTER FOR THE 2022 ELECTIONS:

Today I Learned: How to Register to Vote in 2022

How to Reactivate Comelec Voter Registration Record Online

GUIDE: How to Register as an Overseas Voter, Deadline is Oct. 14

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