The Philippine Online Chronicles

The first ever automated Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) in Hong Kong and Singapore is going smoothly so far according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The voting is part of the one-month OAV for more 589,380 registered Filipinos in 93 countries abroad.

In a report by GMA News, OFWs described the automated voting as "fun and simple." The first Filipino to cast her vote in Hong Kong was Rowena de la Cruz, who completed the voting process in only a minute and a half. Dela Cruz who camped out at the Bayanihan Center since Friday afternoon said, “Even though I'm a migrant, I'm happy that I was able to vote.”

While Lydia Deligente, the first Filipino in Singapore to take part in the 2010 automated OAV, was "all smiles" after she cast her votes, saying it was a lot easier than when she did it manually in the 2004 elections.

Among the usual problem encountered was missing names on the list of registered voters.

More OFWs in Hong Kong are expected to vote tomorrow, Sunday, the scheduled day-off of most foreign workers in the city island.

No cause for alarm

Earlier, an OFW group expressed warning on possible irregularities in the OAV polls particularly in the conduct of manual, postal and automated polls.

But according to Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal, the counting of ballots for the automated OAV will only be done at the end of the voting period on May 10, the scheduled start of the automated elections here in the Philippines. He clarified that the generating of election returns and canvassing will be done in Manila.

After the voting hours, the PCOS machines will print out an initial election return, which will be recorded by the Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEIs), a report posted.

Based on Comelec Resolution 8806, SBEIs must retrieve a status report from the machines at the end of voting each day. On the next voting day, upon opening of the machines, the SBEIs are required to print a status report of their voting machines for comparative purposes. They must compare the number of valid ballots cast in the Status Report with that as recorded.

Dry run of AES

Comelec official Armando Velasco said the elections in Hong Kong and Singapore will serve partially as a test of the computerized system. He said in an Inquirer report, "Through this [overseas voting], we will know whether or not this really works."

On the other hand, sea-based OFWs who are registered absentee voters may personally vote at the embassy or consulate general where their ships are currently docked. If the area where they are docked is implementing the Postal Method, there should be an identified international seaport under its jurisdiction, Manila Times reported.

For those registered for Postal Voting, voters will receive a mailing packet containing their ballot and the ballot envelope. They will accomplish the ballot, affix their right thumb mark at the lower portion, tear off that portion and put it inside the ballot envelope. They will then fold the accomplished ballot, have it sealed and put it in the ballot envelope.

Absente voters who will use the Postal Voting mode will also have to affix their name and signature on the left-hand corner of the ballot envelope before sending it back by mail to the embassy or consulate general which has jurisdiction over them.

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