Beyond The Islands

Over 1.8m Pinoys to Vote from Overseas

OFWs are deemed as heroes not only for their remittances that significantly contribute to our economy. They are relentless in the pursuit of their dreams and they work hard for their families.

As Filipino citizens, they also exercise their duty and right to elect the future leaders of our country. This is made possible through overseas absentee voting (OAV), as mandated in Article V, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution.

Two Modes of Absentee Voting

There are two modes of voting available for OFWs in the May 2019 elections: in personal or through mail. This means that they can either go to the post where they are registered, or wait for their ballots in the mail.

Overseas absentee voters can cast their votes from April 13 to May 13, 2019.

Their votes will then be processed using a vote count machine (VCM) under the automated election systems (AES).

Registered voters who are abroad, however, can only vote for national positions: 12 senators and one party list organization. A special ballot is typically used when choosing candidates for these positions.

OFWs Voting Across the World

According to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) website, a total of 1,822,173 Filipinos from four regions across the world are registered voters. 

The number of absentee voters is highest in the Middle East and African Region at 887,744. This is followed by the Asia Pacific Region at 401,390; the North and Latin American Region at 345,415; and the European Region at 187,624.

A total of 41 posts will have a VCM: 

  • Australia – Canberra, Sydney
  • Hong Kong
  • Taiwan – Taichung, Taipei, Kaohsiung
  • Japan – Tokyo, Osaka
  • Brunei
  • Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur
  • Macau
  • Korea – Seoul
  • Singapore
  • New Zealand – Wellington
  • Hawaii – Honolulu
  • Guam – Agana
  • USA – Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Washington, Chicago
  • Canada – Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver
  • UK – London
  • Spain – Madrid
  • Italy – Milan, Rome
  • Greece – Athens
  • Bahrain – Manama
  • Oman – Muscat
  • Saudi Arabia – Al-Khobar, Jeddah, Riyadh
  • United Arab Emirates – Abu Dhabi, Dubai
  • Lebanon – Beirut
  • Qatar – Doha
  • Kuwait
  • Israel – Tel Aviv

Meanwhile, postal voting will be available in the following places:

  • Vietnam – Hanoi
  • Pakistan – Islamabad
  • Papua New Guinea – Port Moresby
  • China – Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou
  • Myanmar – Yangon
  • Turkey – Ankara
  • Thailand – Bangkok
  • Brazil – Brasilia
  • Argentina – Buenos Aires
  • Mexico
  • Switzerland – Geneva, Berne
  • Portugal – Lisbon
  • Russia – Moscow
  • Netherlands – The Hague
  • Austria – Vienna
  • Chile – Santiago
  • Germany – Berlin
  • Czech Republic – Prague
  • Poland – Warsaw
  • Norway – Oslo
  • France – Paris
  • Belgium – Brussels
  • Hungary – Budapest
  • South Africa – Pretoria
  • Nigeria – Abuja
  • Egypt – Cairo
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