Repatriated Filipinos who intend to participate in the May 2022 general elections have until Sept. 30 to file for transfer of their voter registration records from overseas to the Philippines, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Saturday, Sept. 4.
"The Commission en Banc recognizes the need to prevent the disenfranchisement of a great number of our kababayans who have been unexpectedly repatriated due to COVID-19 pandemic, hence the decision to extend the deadline," Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said in a statement.
"If they will be in the Philippines on election day, then they can still exercise their right of suffrage by casting their ballot here," he added.
The initial deadline for the transfer of records was last Aug. 31, the Comelec said.
The Comelec said that the applicant for transfer of records from "overseas to the Philippines must be a resident of the locality where he or she will vote in the 2022 polls."
"(He or she) must personally file the application with the OEO (Office of the Election Officer) of his or her locality," the Comelec said.
"The deadline for all types of application for local and overseas voters is on Sept. 30, 2021," it added.