IMAGE: Daniella Marie Agacer
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs has set a record-high of 33% turnout among overseas voters so far for the 2022 elections.
While this figure may still increase as the government finishes up the canvassing of votes, DFA Overseas Voting Secretariat Director Zoilo Velasco said this has already exceeded the 31.45% voter turnout recorded in the 2016 elections reflecting to about 500,000 to 550,000 out of the 1.6 million registered overseas voters.
“Masasabi nating successful, it’s a success kasi nalagpasan natin yung record ng 2016 elections. Noong 2016 kasi, 31.45% ‘yung ating voter turnout so talagang excited mga tao na bumoto noong 2016,” he said.
(We can say that the overseas absentee voting is a success because we succeeded in our record in the 2016 elections, which was 31.45%, so people were excited to vote.)
“Ngayon, masasabi natin mas naging mas excited silang bumoto kasi base sa report na natanggap namin, nasa mga 33% ‘yung voter turnout. Talagang napakapaganda at napaka-successful ng ating botohan overseas despite na may pandemya na naglimita ng movement ng mga tao,” Velasco added.
(Now, we can say that people are more excited because we had a 33% voter turnout. The voting overseas is successful despite an ongoing pandemic that limited the movement of the people.)
Velasco, however, clarified that this number is not yet final because the canvassing is still ongoing but he said the DFA also based the number on the daily reports of OFWs who cast their votes.
He said the canvassing is expected to be finished within the week.