By Erma Edera
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has urged over 570,000 overseas Filipinos to re-register in order to participate for the upcoming 2022 presidential elections.
Department of Foreign Affairs (MANILA BULLETIN)
The DFA made the call after the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) deactivated 578,185 overseas voters who failed to participate in the 2016 and 2019 national and local elections.
“In this regard, the deactivated voters are urged to re-register in order for them to be able participate in the 2022 presidential elections,” the DFA said in a statement.
OFWs, as well as immigrants, seafarers, and students who are about to leave for abroad, and are not yet registered as overseas voters, may register from Dec. 16, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2021.
The DFA said the OFWs may re-register at any Philippine Embassy, Consulate General, Mission, or Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), Overseas Voter Registration Centers designated by Comelec.
“All Filipino citizens who expect to be abroad from April 9, 2022 to May 8, 2022 during the overseas voting period for the 2022 presidential elections, and are at least 18 years old on May 9 2022 and not otherwise disqualified by law, may register as an overseas voter at the abovementioned locations,” the DFA said.