Local absentee voting set on Apr. 27 to 29

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has allotted three days for local absentee voters — government officials and employees, including soldiers and policemen, as well as members of the media — to vote ahead of the May 9, 2016 elections.

In a resolution promulgated on Oct. 14, the Comelec sets the local absentee voting from April 27 to 29, 2016.

Those entitled to avail of the privilege are government officials and uniformed personnel who will be on election duty, and media practitioners who will be covering elections on May 9.

However, local absentee voters can only vote for national elective positions, including president, vice president, senators and party-list representatives.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez has reminded those who would like to avail of the privilege to make sure that they are registered voters whose records, including biometrics, are current.

“You can’t be a local absentee voter without first being a registered voter. That’s why the Comelec is encouraging everyone eligible for local absentee voting to check their registrations,” said Jimenez.

Those who wish to avail of the privilege have until March 7, 2016 to enlist as local absentee voters.  Application forms are already available for download at www.comelec.gov.ph.

Government officials and employees as well as the police and military must submit their application to their superiors.

Members of the media, on the other hand, may file theirs before the Office of the Election Officer or Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor or, in the case of those in Metro Manila, at the Comelec – National Capital Region (NCR).

The applications of the members of the media are required to be accompanied by a certification from their companies that they are bona fide media practitioners.

All applicants are also required to present a document from their organizations certifying that they will indeed be working on Election Day.

If approved, the local absentee voters would be allowed to vote anytime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. from April 27 to 29 in the place designated by the head of their agency for government employees, and at the Comelec office where the application was filed for media practitioners.  SFM