051507: Literally, they were absentee voters-why?

By Estrella Torres

Reporter

THE Commission on Elections said it would investigate the very low turnout of absentee voters, counted at less than 14 percent. Commissioner Florentino Tuason Jr. said as of 3 p.m. (Manila time) Monday, only 71,668 out of the 504,000 registered Filipino voters abroad had cast their ballots. In contrast, in the first absentee voting in 2004, of the 359,297 registered voters, 65 percent, or 233,092, cast their ballots. The overseas absentee voters had one month from April 14 to May 14 this year to cast their votes through three different systems—personal voting, voting by mail and modified voting by mail. “We will have to evaluate the reasons why our countrymen abroad are so [unconcerned] in casting their votes despite the fact that the posts together with Comelec have saturated these areas with voter information regarding the elections,” said Tuason at a press briefing at the Comelec on Monday. The Department of Foreign Affairs reported that personal voting is the most favored among those who cast their ballots, especially in countries like Saudi Arabia and Singapore, where most Filipinos work as domestics and construction workers. Diplomatic and election officials agreed earlier that the low turnout was due to the provision in the absentee voting law that requires Filipinos to sign an affidavit signifying their intention to return to the Philippines. Tuason also attributed the very low turnout to the movement of some 300,000 to 400,000 workers who had transferred to other countries than the one where they registered. He added that many may have also returned home. Local absentee voting has turned out well, said the Comelec, with a total turnout of 33,531 out of 39,000. Local absentee voting refers to the special voting for members of the military and police as well as government officials on duty during the election.

 

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