MANILA: Almost a million Filipinos abroad are set to cast their absentee votes starting Saturday, April 13.
Commissioner Lucenito Tagle said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is had completed with preparations for the conduct of the overseas absentee voting (OAV).
“The voting machines are already there for those that will use the automated system,” he said. “The ballots are also already there and other election paraphernalia.”
The chairman of the Comelec’s Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting (COAV) said they have set the schedule for the Final Testing and Sealing (FTS) in the seven areas where the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines will be used.
The first to vote using the automated machines are Filipinos in Hong Kong, followed by Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, he added.
OAV is set to be held on Sunday at the Bayanihan Centre in Victoria Road, Kennedy Town and at the Philippine embassy on D3 Collector Road C Diplomatic, Riyadh.
Filipinos in the UAE will vote at the Philippine embassy on Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi.
Tagle said they have scheduled on Thursday the FTS at the Philippine embassy in Singapore on Nassim Road and the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai on Al Quasis Area 3.
On Friday, the FTS will be at the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah on the Rehab District and Philippine embassy in Kuwait on Faiha.
The Comelec opted to hold automated polls in areas where there’s a large concentration of Filipinos.
Comelec records showed Hong Kong has 83,118 voters; 50,063 in Singapore; 55,842 in Dubai; 30,328 in Jeddah; 30,468 in Kuwait; 53,396 in Riyadh; and 21,645 in Abu Dhabi.
Tagle said all senatorial candidates, party-list groups, political parties and accredited citizens arms are requested to send their official watchers.
In other areas, OAV participants will still utilise the personal and postal method of voting, he added.
Comelec commissioners are now in the countries where PCOS will be used.
THE PHILIPPINE STAR
