MANILA, Sept. 7 (PNA) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded overseas absentee voters, who plan to vote in the country in the May 2016 polls, that they have only until Oct. 12 to transfer their registration.
“The deadline for the transfer from the overseas absentee voters list to the local list is on October 12,” said Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez in an interview.
The poll body official said that the deadline for overseas absentee voters, who would like to cast their vote locally, was different from the deadline for the nationwide registration, which will be on Oct. 31.
“That is a very important distinction because they might think that the deadline for that is also on October 31,” said Jimenez.
With this, the Comelec said that all overseas voters, who want to transfer their registration records from abroad back to the Philippine municipality/city/district may apply for transfer of registration from the overseas registry to the local registry.
On the other hand, Jimenez added the deadline for those in the local list to become registered overseas voters in the forthcoming elections is on Oct. 31.
“They can apply until October 31 in any embassy or consulate abroad and in the Philippines, at any of the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) sites or at the office of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration,” said Jimenez.
Meanwhile, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista advised the public that there will be no voter registration from Oct. 12 to 16, during the period of filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs).
“There will be no registration during that week so, technically, the period will even be shorter,” he said.
Bautista also urged the public not to wait for the last minute for them to register or validate their biometrics record at the local Comelec offices.
“Please don’t wait until the last minute… our appeal to everyone is to register and validate their biometrics as soon as possible,” he added. (PNA)