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The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday, June 23, invited registered overseas voters with active records to take part in its internet voting test runs.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Comelec said interested participants may sign up online until 5 pm Friday, June 25.
“Email your signed consent form and a copy of your passport or seafarer’s book to overseasvoting@comelec.gov.ph,” the Comelec notice read.
In a tweet on Monday, June 21, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said the test runs will be conducted in July.
“Today, Commissioner (Antonio) Kho signed a [memorandum of agreement] with tech providers to test a mobile app for overseas voting at no cost to the commission. Test run is in July,” Guanzon tweeted.
The Comelec Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) said on June 11 that the poll body was talking to three technology providers to conduct internet testing, namely Voatz, Indra, and Smartmatic.
Voatz is a US-based for-profit, private mobile election voting application, while Smartmatic has been the Philippines’ technology provider for automated elections since 2010. Indra, meanwhile, is an IT company that has served elections in Europe.
Lawyer Philip Luis Marin of the Comelec OFOV, however, clarified at the time that online voting for select groups of overseas Filipino workers will not take place in the 2022 polls.
“For the 2022 elections, I can say it won’t happen. Maybe in future elections,” Marin had said.
Republic Act No. 10590 or the Overseas Voting Act of 2013 allows Comelec to “explore other more efficient, reliable, and secure modes or systems, ensuring the secrecy and sanctity of the entire process, whether paper-based, electronic-based, or internet-based technology or such other latest technology available, for onsite and remote registration and elections.”
Under that law, the poll body must then submit their reports to the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee.
Based on Comelec’s data, there were 1.42 million registered overseas voters as of May 19.
The poll body said on June 11 that it seeks to register 1.6 million more Filipinos for overseas voting in the 2022 national elections. – Rappler.com
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