Filipino workers in Hong Kong cue for their turn to cast their vote on the first day of the overseas absentee voting held at the Bayanihan, Kennedy Town Centre, Hongkong. Image from the Consul General Raly Tejada / Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday reported that 31 percent of voters overseas have so far voted for this year’s polls.
Comelec data shared by Commissioner George Garcia indicated that as of noon Sunday, a total of 526,972 or 31.05 percent of 1,697,215 registered voters have also voted.
Of the 526,972 who already voted, 202,109 are from the Middle East and Africa; 178,656 from Asia-Pacific; 94,395 from North and South America; and 51,792 are in Europe, according to Comelec.
Garcia noted that the overseas turnout in the 2016 polls was 32 percent.
“For 2022, we expect higher turnout,” Garcia told reporters.
The Comelec previously said that they are expecting 580,212 overseas voters to participate in the elections.
Overseas voting started on April 10 and will continue until May 9.