The Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV)
registration for the 2013 national elections started on November 02, 2011 and
would end on October 31, 2012.
As the deadline nears, the Department of Foreign
Affairs (DFA) and Commission on Elections (Comelec) are urging Filipinos abroad
to register so they can meet their target of one million registrants. As of
September 10, stats from the DFA said that they still need more or less 150,000
registrants to meet this target.
What could be the reason why some Filipinos abroad fail to
register for the OAV? Could it be that many
would like to exercise their right to participate in the national elections
even when they are out of the country but just don’t know how or where to do it.
Survey Result:
Apparently many Filipinos
abroad would like to register for the OAV but are hindered by lack of
information about the registration process or venues. Another reason is because
the registration is too far from their place.
Of the respondents, only 12.2% have already
registered for the OAV. This is in far contrast from the 87.8% who have not yet
registered.
Why
They Did Not Register
Of the survey respondents who are not yet
registered, 34.7% said that they want to register but don’t know how or where. 29.6%
said that the registration venue is too far from their location while 22.4% are
clueless about the ongoing registration. Only 13.3% said that they don’t want
to register and don’t intend to vote.
About the Respondents
Majority
of the respondents (90.8%) are legal OFW. The remaining 6.1% are undocumented
OFWs and 3.1% are Filipinos with permanent residency status in their host
country.
To help Filipinos
abroad who want to register here are some basic FAQs about the OAV:
Who can register as Overseas Absentee
Voters?
- All
Filipino citizens abroad who are at least 18 years old on 14 May 2013, and
who are not otherwise disqualified by law;
- Those
who have reacquired or retained their Philippine citizenship under R.A.
9225 and other Filipino citizens with dual citizenship;
- Immigrants
or permanent
residents of other
countries who are recognized as such in their host countries.
Where and how can one register for OAV? Is personal
appearance at the PH Embassy required?
- A
registrant needs to have their biometrics captured so personal appearance
is required in the venue where the registration will be done, which can be
at the Philippine Embassy/Consulate General or any identified registration
site.
What requirements
should one present to be an Overseas Absentee Voter?
- Valid
Philippine passport or a certificate from the DFA
issued through the Philippine Embassy/Consulate General, declaring either
of the following;
- that
one have submitted document that will warrant the issuance of a passport
- or
one is a valid passport holder but
unable to produce it for valid reasons.
- Accomplished
OAV Form No. 1 that is available at the Philippine Embassy/Consulate
General or mobile registration site at the time of registration.
The form can also
be downloaded in the following sites:
·
For
seafarers, an additional requirement is a photocopy of their Seaman’s Book or any other
document to prove that they are a seafarer.
