^

Headlines

Comelec urges Congress to pass Internet voting bill

- Ghio Ong, Helen Flores - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes urged yesterday Congress to pass a law allowing Internet voting to encourage more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to participate in national elections.

Speaking at the weekly Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel media forum, Brillantes said that half a million OFWs registered in the 2010 polls, but only 172,000 actually voted.

“Congress should come out with legislation allowing online voting,” he said.

Comelec aims to reach the one-million target of registered absentee voters for next year’s elections.

Meanwhile, Brillantes also asked Congress to pass a bill that would provide for absentee voting for members of the media who are away from their places of registration on official assignment on the day of elections.

“Instead of (Comelec) issuing a resolution, Congress should pass this bill (absentee voting for journalists),” he said. “We don’t want to preempt Congress.”

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal had filed a petition on behalf of media practitioners to allow them to vote early in next year’s elections.

Under existing laws, a person has to be physically present in the polling place where he or she is a registered voter to be able to cast his or her ballot.

Republic Act 9189, the Overseas Absentee Voting Act, allows qualified Filipino citizens abroad to register and vote during national and local elections.

RA 7166, the Local Absentee Voting Act,only allows qualified government officials and employees, including members of the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police, who are duly registered voters, to vote in places where they are not registered as voters but where they are temporarily assigned to perform election duties on election day.                           

vuukle comment

ARMED FORCES AND THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE

BRILLANTES

CHAIRMAN SIXTO BRILLANTES

COMELEC

DIAMOND HOTEL

ELECTIONS

LOCAL ABSENTEE VOTING ACT

OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING ACT

REPUBLIC ACT

ROMULO MACALINTAL

  • Latest
  • Trending
Latest
Latest
abtest
Are you sure you want to log out?
X
Login

Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!

Get Updated:

Signup for the News Round now

FORGOT PASSWORD?
SIGN IN
or sign in with