The Philippine Online Chronicles

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ruled out the use of internet by overseas voters for the May 2013 midterm elections, citing limited time for the system’s preparation.

“2013 is near; it’s not feasible. The Internet registration and voting will not be available,” Comelec commissioner Armando Velasco said in a Philippine Star report.

Velasco, who chairs the Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting (COAV), said that the poll body will still consider using the online voting system for future elections.

“We are just starting with the study with the amendment of the law so we can use the Internet. We are really considering the amendment to the law to include Internet voting and registration,” he said.

Under the Overseas Absentee Voting law, only ballots cast and mailed ballots received by the Philippine embassies, consulates and other Foreign Service establishments shall be counted.

In 2007, the Comelec used an online system provided by Spain-based Scytl Technologies for “non-binding” elections in Singapore. The system enabled overseas voters to access a list of voters and cast their votes through the Internet.

Low OFW registration

Velasco also noted a slow start in the registration of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) eligible to vote in the 2013 midterm polls. He said only 16,070 expatriates had registered in various diplomatic outposts abroad as of Jan. 18.

The figure, he said, was way too low from the one million OFW voters targeted by the government to register for the 2013 elections.

OFW registration started in November last year and will end on Oct. 31 this year.

To encourage higher overseas participation, the Comelec is offering all-expense-paid trips to local premier destinations and gift checks to OFWs who register for the coming elections.

Embassy and consular staff in various countries across the globe will be also visiting OFWs in their workplaces or homes to facilitate their registration, according to Velasco.

The poll body will also put up registration booths in airports to enable OFWs to register before leaving the country.