Absentee voter turnout hits 65 percent

The first-ever overseas absentee voting conducted in Philippine history had a "good" voter turnout of 65 percent out of 354,000 Filipino voters registered at various Philippine embassies abroad, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

This was the first Philippine election that allowed absentee voting by Filipinos living and working overseas. While most of the country’s 43 million registered voters are asked to elect a president, a vice president, 12 members of the Senate, 212 congressmen and more than 17,000 local posts, absentee voters are only allowed to vote for national candidates and their choice of party-list group.

The Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat (OAVS) reported yesterday that it managed to get a 65 percent turnout at the close of the electoral process.

OAVS chairman and concurrent Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said that an estimated 230,000 votes came in from the 577 precincts around the world.

Seguis said that the first ballots that were transmitted to Manila came from countries with 100 or fewer voters such as South America and parts of Europe.

In the vote-rich countries in Middle East and parts of Southeast Asia, Seguis said the ballots will come in a little later.

OAVS vice chairwoman Catherine Maceda said that the turnout was very good considering it was almost the same percentage as that of the domestic figure.

Maceda explained that the voting process was more difficult overseas since a significant number had to travel long distances to cast their votes.

"This means that they took the time out and travel long distances just to cast their votes," she said.

Comelec Commissioner Florentino Tuason Jr. said 200,000 overseas absentee voters had already cast their ballot as of Saturday night, citing the latest feedback from the 84 embassies and consulates administering absentee voting.

As of yesterday afternoon, Tuason said the turnout was about 61 percent and he projected that if this trend continues, 65 percent of overseas absentee voters will have cast their votes by 3 p.m. – With Marvin Sy, AFP