Comelec says next overseas voting will be done via internet

 

Commissioner Casquejo gives updates on internet voting for overseas Filipinos

Forget the long lines traditionally seen during overseas voting in Hong Kong, which almost always prompted heavy police presence around Bayanihan Centre on each Sunday of the month-long polling.

Forget, too, the fiesta-like atmosphere that prevailed in the vicinity of the lone voting centre when supporters of various political parties would conduct last-minute campaigning for their candidates, which would at times degenerate into squabbles.

This is because for the upcoming mid-term elections in 2025, all overseas voters will have to cast their ballots exclusively online or via the internet, according to the Commission on Elections.

This was revealed earlier today by Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo, who is in charge of overseas voting, during a briefing and training session for Filipino community leaders held at the Sheraton in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Also at the event was Undersecretary Jesus Gary Domingo and Consul Robert Quintin who is chair and vice chairman, respectively, of the Overseas Voting Secretariat at the Department of Foreign Affairs, as well as Consul General Raly Tejada.

Casquejo said the idea is to allow registered overseas voters to vote anywhere – be it at home, or while traveling to other places abroad. This will be the only mode of voting that will be allowed, meaning personal voting will be totally eliminated, although the Consulate will set up a kiosk during the election period to help with queries.

To ensure that the person casting the ballot is the named voter, there will be a pre-enrolment period 60 days before the start of voting period, which is from Apr 13, 2025 to May 12, 2025. The voter will have to upload his/her document, then wait for verification from the Philippine Consulate.

During verification, the Consulate will determine whether the applicant is a registered voter. If confirmed, a link portal will be sent enabling the voter to vote during the election period. Once done, the voter will receive a digital print of the cast ballot.

Casquejo admitted there is a trust issue with the move to internet voting, but says, “tiwala lang sa process.”

He pointed out that Comelec has a trust rating of 84%, indicating an overwhelming majority of voters believes in its integrity as an institution.

Another change being eyed is to turn voter registration totally online, Right now, overseas voting applicants can either go physically to the Consulate to fill up a form and have their biometrics taken, or fill out the application form online, but still go to the Consulate for the biometrics taking.

But the purely online registration, Casquejo said, will have to wait until the next presidential election in 2028.

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Going for internet voting has long been eyed by the Comelec but it has been plagued by doubts on whether it can do this on its own or wait for legislative approval.

But with Comelec chair George Garcia taking over, the poll body has taken the position that since the Overseas Voting Act of 2013 allows it to implement other means of voting overseas, Congress approval is no longer necessary.

Casquejo told the Filcom leaders that the drafting of the Terms of Reference for internet voting and its approval by the Comelec en banc, “is finally concluded.” Thus, the selection of the internet voting system provider has begun, as well as the drafting of general instructions and the preparation of training materials.

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Aside from a possible legal challenge, the lack of funding could derail plans to shift to internet voting.

For 2024, Comelec proposed P794.45 million for overseas voting, including the procurement of an internet voting system. But this was slashed to P23.36 million in the National Expenditure Program, which Malacañang submitted to Congress.

Two years earlier, its proposed budget of P831 million was drastically reduced to P111.91 million, resulting in deep cuts in spending, including postage for mailed-in ballots.

Overseas voting has lost its shine for most lawmakers because of the low registration numbers and even lower turnout.

Out of an estimated 11 million Filipinos overseas, only 1,693,813 registered to vote in the 2022 elections. And out of these registered voters, only 663,188 actually voted - or a turnout of 39.15 percent.

Given these numbers, Comelec estimates that it cost at least P400 each for Filipinos overseas to vote in the last election, which comes up to a total cost of  P677.5 million for the month-long political exercise.

Without internet voting the cost could only add up if more overseas Filipinos decide to register and vote. And if no additional funds are forthcoming, there could only be more chaos - and greater hardship for Filipino migrants who were first promised the right to choose their own leaders 20 years ago.