OFWs and Overseas Filipinos as Political Actors
(Absentee Voting Law)
The group with Ms. Catherine Maceda of the Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was able to come up with several recommendations in the workshop on OFW and overseas Filipinos as political actors.
Problems
The Overseas Absentee Voting Law or RA9189 aims to assure qualified Filipino citizens abroad the right to vote. In the implementation of the said law in the recent national elections, only 364,187 Filipinos registered or approximately 40 percent for the 60-day period of registration. This very low number is attributed to the delayed passage of the law and the shortened period of registration. The original plan was for a 7-month period which was reduced to only two months. Personal requirements to register and vote might have contributed to such low numbers as well.
The voting system was not as effective either. There was a 65 percent voter turnout compared with national or local turnout of 72 percent. There were 87 facilities set up as voter centers and 22 field voting precincts set up by some 15 posts, a very limited number to serve all of the registrants. In addition, land based migrants were given only 30 days to vote and sea-based migrants were allotted only 60 days. Voting by mail results showed that 8 percent of the ballots were invalidated or returned to sender. There was a low turnout of Filipino immigrants as well. This may be because of section 5D provision in the law which requires Filipino immigrants and permanent residents, recognized as such by the host countries, to execute an affidavit of intent to return and establish physical, permanent residence in the Philippines within three years after the approval of registration. The Limited mobility of domestic workers is also a reason for the low turnout of votes. They cannot just go out, register and vote without their employers’ permission.
Recommendations
Overseas absentee voting is important to migrants. However its initial implementation revealed that a lot more has to be done in order to improve its system. The workshop group suggests conducting a streamlining of procedures.
An early implementation of the system of continuing registration must be executed. Centralizing the process of OAV applications in Comelec-Manila will also help. Expanding the network of registration centers for OAV purposes by allowing pre-departure registration by other government agencies may also be an option. This step can help lessen the number of registrants as the election dates approach. In addition, provisions on qualifications of the voters particularly immigrants have to be reconsidered.
Automated voting and counting procedures as well as to adopt voting by mail in countries other than Japan, United Kingdom, and Canada were also recommended.
It was suggested that modifications for the registration and voting procedures for seafarers be made.
A transparency of the system and its procedure will make OAV effective. A massive and aggressive information and education campaign will be useful.
There is a sense of urgency to review the overseas absentee voting law by the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. Creating a more effective system will maximize the potential of the law. |
