Overseas voter registration still below projected numbers

WITH just over a month left before the end of the Overseas Voter Registration Period, the projected numbers of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the 2025 midterm polls remain unmet.

In an interview, Comelec chairman George Garcia said they are still some 300,000 overseas voter registrants short of their projected number.

“As of the latest tally, we only have 1.180 million overseas voters registered. The projection of the Comelec is to have 1.486 million registered overseas voters,” said Garcia.

The Comelec has projected to have 1,467,959 registered overseas voters in the 76 Philippine posts slated to use internet voting.

In addition, it was expecting 33,328 overseas voters in the 17 Philippine posts that will use automated counting machines.

Garcia said there is still enough time to bring up the number of overseas voters.

“We still have a lot of expectations in the remaining days of registration… Once Filipinos overseas learn of the internet voting, they will get registered,” said Garcia.

Similarly, he said it is imperative for Philippine posts abroad to be more active in registering Filipinos abroad.

“The different posts should conduct more satellite registration activities,” said Garcia.

To recall, the filing of applications for overseas voter registration began on December 9, 2022 and shall end on September 30, 2024.