Migrant group assails overseas absentee voting ‘irregularities’
Migrant group assails overseas absentee voting ‘irregularities’
OFWs line-up during the first day of the overseas absentee voting in Hong Kong. (Photo courtesy of Migrante International)
PH Elections 2019
“It’s not like we’re doing this for the first time.“
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – A Filipino migrant group expressed indignation over reports of irregularities and problems encountered by overseas Filipino workers in the overseas absentee voting that kicked off last April 13.
Migrante International called the Commission of Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) negligent of their duty over several reports such as delayed arrival of the absentee voting ballots, vote counting machines (VCMs) rejecting ballots and problem with the ballot’s barcode among others, which have reached their chapters abroad.
There are 1.8 million registered Filipino overseas absentee voters who want to exercise their democratic right to vote, said Migrante. They fear that such problems in the overseas absentee voting would deny them of this right.
“Comelec failed to ensure that overseas absentee voters receive all the necessary information and materials to prepare them for the elections even prior to April 13, the first day overseas absentee voters could officially vote,” Migrante said in a statement.
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