Overseas Voter Registration exceeds 600K new OV Registrants

By admin on August 20th, 2015

The Department of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Voting Secretariat (DFA-OVS), announced last August 19, 2015, that with a little over two months left in this voter registration period, overseas voter registration (OVR) has surpassed the six hundred thousand mark with a total of 600, 823 new OV registrants.

Broken down by region, the Foreign Service Posts (FSPs) in the Middle and Africa processed 249,512 new OV registrants, 123, 993 from the Americas, the European FSPs with 68,124 and 91,088 from Asia and the Pacific, while the OVRCs in the Philippines contributed 68,106.

Last July, six (6) Overseas Voter Registration Centers (OVRCs) in the Philippines were opened at the DFA’s Regional Consular Offices in Davao, Cebu and San Fernando Pampanga and also at the DFA’s Satellite Offices at Robinson’s Galleria, SM Manila and Ali Mall, in addition to the nine (9) OVRCs that have already been processing applications for registration/certification for OFWs, immigrants, seafarers and students who are about leave for abroad, and who are not yet registered as overseas voter.

Last June, the iREHISTRO online system that provides another way of accomplishing forms for voter registration related process went global. Overseas Filipinos in the Asia Pacific, Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa region now have the option of filling up the forms from the comfort of their homes, workplace, internet café, or anywhere they have access to reliable internet connection. The optional appointment feature of the system allows for better time management since it provides them an easy
way to schedule their personal appearance at the Embassy, Consulate, Mission or Mobile/Field registration site.

iREHISTRO applicants still have to appear personally at Foreign Service Posts or Mobile/Field registration sites, to sign and submit their duly accomplished printed form, and for biometrics capturing. In addition, the processed applications still have to be approved by the Resident Election Registration Board (RERB).

“COMELEC lauds the effort of the DFA-OVS and all the Philippine Embassies in their aggressive campaign to increase the number of registered Overseas Filipino Voters. I sincerely appreciate the initiatives to put up overseas registration centers in the country as well as in our Embassies. I also commend the Embassies for including the overseas voting registration in their mobile consular services. I hope we can further look into the possibility of holding these registrations in public areas like malls,
public squares and parks, community centers and other suitable places where the host government allows the conduct of election related activities,” COMELEC Chairman Andres D. Bautista said. “The preparations by the Department and the Commission on Elections led to a successful start for the registration process,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a letter. “At the current pace of registration, the 2016 Presidential elections will be the first to have over a million active registered overseas voters. Attaining this goal can definitely be a game changer,” Office of Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Undersecretary Rafael E. Seguis, who is concurrently Chairman of DFA-OVS, said.

All Filipino citizens who expect to be abroad during the thirty day (09 April – 09 May 2016) overseas voting period for the 2016 Presidential Elections, at least 18 years old on 09 May 2016, and not otherwise disqualified by law, may personally register as an overseas voter, at all Philippine Foreign Service Posts (FSPs) including the three (3) Manila Economic and Cultural Offices (MECO), (15) OVRCs in the Philippines and at other COMELEC approved field/mobile registration centers. For an updated list
please go to www.dfa-oavs.gov.ph or www.comelec.gov.ph.

Overseas Filipinos in the Asia Pacific (except China and Taiwan), Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa region may now access the iREHISTRO On-line system to register as an overseas voter. The voter registration period ends on 31 October 2015. Register now!