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| The protesters are calling on Comelec to conduct urgent voter education |
Militant Filipino migrant organizations have hit out at the Commission on Elections for its alleged failure to conduct comprehensive voter education, which could lead to massive voter disenfranchisement in this year’s mid-term election.
About 50 members of Bayan Muna HK and its affiliate
organizations picketed the Consulate on Sunday, Jan. 19, to condemn Comelec’s alleged
negligence in holding immediate voter education on the new online voting
system.
""It is unacceptable that many voters are
at risk of losing their right to vote due to a cumbersome process burdened by
excessive requirements,” said Lai Besana, convenor of Bayan Muna HK.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Besana noted that the OVS requires voters to verify
their email addresses and undergo a preparatory registration process before they
can participate in the online voting, which is being held for the first time in
most overseas countries hosting Filipino migrants.
Voters who encounter difficulties trying to vote online are required to go to the Consulate to cast their ballots, a prospect that
could lead to long queues and massive disenfranchisement.
“The OVS imposes burdensome requirements that could
prevent people from voting. This process will discourage voters, especially
those who can only participate on weekends," Besana warned.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
She said that if Comelec really wants more overseas
Filipinos to vote they must immediately hold a training session for voters so
they will know how the online voting system works.”
Comelec officials who came to Hong Kong last July took
a select group of Filipino community members through the process of first, enrolling as a registered voter; then
accessing the voting portal where they will be asked to first present their
credentials before being allowed to vote.
Comelec commissioner in charge of the
OVS, Marlon Casquejo, told the audience that there will be a pro-enrolment
period 60 days before the start of voting period, which is from Apr 13, 2025 to
May 12, 2025.
The pre-enrolment will then take place
from Feb. 12 to Apr 12, 2025.
At this stage, the voter will be
asked to ad the required documents and provide an email address, then wait for
verification from the Consulate (or other overseas posts).
During verification, the
Consulate will check against the National Registry of Overseas Voters whether
the applicant is a registered voter. If confirmed, a link to the election
portal will be sent to the voter. Once done, the voter will receive a digital
print of the cast ballot.
