The House of Representatives has passed on the third and final reading, a measure that will allow Filipinos abroad to register and vote online, making it easier for them to participate in elections.
Lawmakers unanimously approved on Wednesday House Bill (HB) No. 10178, or the draft “Overseas Electronic Registration and Voting Act,” which provides more options for registration and voting for overseas Filipinos, particularly migrant workers. The bill seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9189, or the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003.
Under the bill, overseas voting is defined as “the process by which qualified citizens of the Philippines abroad exercise their right to vote, either at any post abroad or at designated voting centers outside the post, by mail or by electronic means, including but not limited to web-based portals, and other internet-based technologies, to receive ballots and cast votes, thereon, as may be determined by the Commission [on Elections] (Comelec).”
Amending section 23 of RA 9189, HB 10178 states that voting may be done “either personally, by mail or by any electronic means as may be determined by the [Comelec]. For this purpose, the [poll body] shall issue the necessary guidelines on the manner and procedures of voting at least 120 days prior to the conduct of the next national and local elections.”
At the moment, Filipinos overseas may vote only in person or through mail.
Interagency effort
The bill also tasks Comelec’s Office of Overseas Voting to coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Migrant Workers, Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Statistics Authority and other concerned agencies to “obtain biometric data of qualified overseas voters.” The poll body will likewise issue overseas voter IDs in person, by mail or by electronic means.
The said government agencies, along with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and other concerned groups, will also work with Comelec in crafting the implementing guidelines.
HB 10178 prohibits any person “to steal, conceal, alter, destroy, mutilate, manipulate or in any way tamper with the mail or electronic data or information containing the ballots for overseas voters, the ballot, the electronic returns or any record, document or paper required.”