Overseas Filipinos with existing voting records and registered overseas voters may now transact with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) virtually.

In Resolution No. 10709, the Commission En Banc authorized the OFOV to use virtual, online, or electronic platforms to receive and process the different types of requests, applications, or transactions.

The poll body said this is in order to provide qualified overseas Filipino citizens with an alternate method to avail of frontline services of the OFOV.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has caused governments all over the world to impose occasional lockdowns and quarantine protocols that prevent overseas Filipinos from physically visiting Philippine Embassies and Consulates to avail of frontline services, including overseas voting registration and allied services," the Comelec said.

The transactions allowed to be done online are certification as an overseas voter; reinstatement of names inadvertently omitted from the National Registry of Overseas Voters (NROV); correction of entries in the Overseas Voter's Registration Record (OVRR), particularly voter's surname or family name, civil status, or name; request to withdraw the application for registration; and request to cancel the OVRR.

Also allowed are reactivation of OVRRs that were deactivated; updating of mailing or postal addresses and other contact information; transfers of registration records between different posts or countries; transfers of registration records from overseas/post to a Philippine city/municipality; and applications for the issuance of certified true copy of Overseas Voters' Registration Record.

Requests or applications may be filed through the iRehistro System (https://irehistro.comelec.gov.ph/irehistro/ovf1), via email ([email protected]), and by Facebook Messenger (https://www.facebook.com/overseasvotingph).

However, the Comelec said applications or transactions requiring the live capture of the applicants' or voters' biometric data, such as their photographs, signatures, and fingerprints, shall not be covered by the resolution.

The transactions that are outside the scope of the resolution are as follows:

Registration as an overseas voter, wherein the applicant is registering as a first-time voter with no existing voter registration record anywhere in the Philippines;

Validation or the capturing of biometric data of registered overseas voters whose biometrics have not yet been captured;

Correction of entries that involve the change of signatures, as in the case of overseas voters who have changed their civil status and surnames;

Recapturing of biometric data, such as photographs, signatures, and/ or fingerprints of overseas voters, in cases where such data are missing from their OVRRs;

Any applications or transactions that are required to be acted upon by the Offices of the Election Officer and/ or Election Registration Boards in cities/municipalities of the Philippines.