Singapore included in automated polls for overseas absentee voting

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has decided to include Singapore in the conduct of automated elections for overseas absentee voting (OAV), the Philippine Embassy in Singapore said yesterday.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Hong Kong was the only other foreign service post in Asia where automated elections will be conducted. Singapore has the second highest number of registered overseas absentee voters in Asia at 31,851.

Hong Kong has 95,355 overseas absentee voters.

OAV will be conducted for 30 days, from April 10 to May 10, in all other Philippine embassies and consulates either by postal or manual voting.

Nine precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines will be delivered to the Philippine embassy in Singapore.

At the end of the 30-day voting period, the poll results will be transmitted to the Comelec in the Philippines a few hours after the close of voting.

Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Minda Cruz reminded registered voters to vote as early as possible.

Cruz called on all registered overseas absentee voters to exercise their right of suffrage early, preferably during the first two weeks of voting, instead of waiting for the last week, to avoid long queues in the embassy.

Overseas absentee voters can only vote for the national elective positions of president, vice president, 12 senators and one (1) party-list representative, but not for local positions.

Registered voters in Singapore will be required to vote in person at the Philippine embassy at 20 Nassim Road from 9 am to 5 pm, except on the last day of voting when it will close at 6 pm.

Voters must bring their valid Philippine passport and identification card (PR card, S-Pass, E-Pass or Work Permit).

Voters can check if his/her name is in the Certified List of Overseas Absentee Voters (CLOAV) found in the Comelec website (www.comelec.gov.ph). Only those whose name appears in the CLOAV will be allowed to vote.