The Commission on Elections (Comelec) aims to increase the participation of overseas Filipinos in the 2025 midterm elections by targeting 3 million registered voters.
With only 40 percent turnout in the 2022 presidential elections, the Comelec has partnered with various organizations for an information campaign on overseas registration and voting.
Despite an estimated 10 to 15 million overseas Filipinos, only 1.6 million were registered in 2022, and a mere 600,000 cast their votes.
Challenges such as distance from embassies and work commitments hindered voter turnout. To address this, the Comelec is considering internet voting, with a second bidding round scheduled for April 2.
This would mark the first implementation of such voting in the Philippines. While some suggest a new law may be needed, Comelec Chair George Garcia asserts that the Overseas Voting Act permits the exploration of alternative voting methods.
Source: PhilNews24 | March 26, 2024
