By Leslie Ann Aquino
A former head of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) reminded qualified voters on Tuesday to register if they want to vote in the May 2019 midterm polls.
Henrietta De Villa (Photo from Google/Manila Bulletin)
“Registration is a must for voting-you can’t vote if you didn’t register or if your registration is not in order,” former PPCRV Chairperson Henrietta de Villa said in an interview.
The country’s former Vatican ambassador issued the reminder in view of the September 29 deadline of the registration period.
De Villa said this is also the reason why the PPCRV local coordinators have been in a state of constant mission reminding and getting Filipinos to register, to activate their registration for those who failed to vote in two consecutive elections, update their registration status for those who have transferred residences.
To note, PPCRV head Rene Sarmiento recently resigned from his post. Johnny Cardenas is serving as interim PPCRV chairman.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV), meantime, reminded Filipinos based abroad that have yet to register as voters regarding the deadline of the registration period for overseas absentee voters (OAV).
“#VoterReg2018 for overseas absentee voters ahead of the #NLE2019 is ongoing until September 30,” the poll body said.
It was last December when the OAV registration period for the May 2019 midterm polls started.
The poll body said all Filipino citizens, who expect to be abroad from April 13 to May 13, 2019 or during the overseas voting period for the midterm polls; at least 18 years old on May 13, 2019; and not otherwise disqualified by law, may register as an overseas voter.
Applications may be filed at the nearest Philippine Foreign Service Posts; or at the Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) at the poll body’s main office in Intramuros, Manila.