The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Philippines has announced plans to issue digital voter identification (ID) cards specifically for overseas Filipino voters, in an initiative that aims to facilitate their participation in an internet voting pilot for the May 2025 midterm elections.
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia stated that the digital voter IDs will only be issued to registered Filipino voters abroad. The issuance of these modernized IDs is intended to streamline the registration process for internet voting. Overseas voters can request their digital voter’s ID by sending an email to a dedicated address provided by the Commission.
A pre-enrollment period for overseas voters wishing to participate will run from February 12, 2025, to May 12, 2025. During this period, voters will need to submit personal information and government-issued identification documents. The digital voter’s ID will serve as an alternative government-issued valid ID if a Philippine passport or seafarer’s identification record book is unavailable.
For the 2025 midterm elections, Comelec will implement the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS) to facilitate overseas voting. The system is part of Comelec’s broader efforts to modernize the electoral process and ensure that overseas Filipino voters can participate more easily in national elections.
The introduction of digital voter IDs is expected to enhance the security and accessibility of the voting process for Filipinos living abroad, reflecting Comelec’s commitment to leveraging technology to improve electoral participation and integrity.
The news comes just a few weeks after the Philippines House of Representatives has passed House Bill No. 10178, amending the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003 to allow online registration and voting for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The bill, which received unanimous approval, requires Comelec to collect biometric data from qualified overseas voters through its Office for Overseas Voting, in collaboration with other government agencies.
Source: Philippine News Agency
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July 9, 2024 — by Tony Bitzionis
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