Historic Online Voting for Filipinos Abroad
The Philippine Embassy in Washington DC has just wrapped up a groundbreaking 30-day online voting period. This new system allowed over 9,000 Filipinos across eight Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the United States to cast their ballots digitally. This marks a significant milestone in expanding electoral access for Filipinos abroad.
Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez emphasized this progress, stating, “This is a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to bring not only our government services—but also the democratic process—closer to Filipinos wherever they are in the world.” He added, “Online voting addresses long-standing challenges faced by our kababayan such as distance, accessibility, and postal delays.”
Expanding Electoral Access for Filipinos Abroad: A New Era
Since the introduction of overseas voting in 2004, the process has evolved. It started with in-person voting at embassies and later shifted to postal voting in 2019. However, the recent launch of online voting represents the first time registered overseas voters in the United States and the Caribbean could securely vote for senators and party-list representatives via the internet.
To support voters, multiple channels were available, including technical assistance and step-by-step guidance to ensure smooth participation. This effort made voting easier, faster, and more accessible for Filipinos living far from home.
Vote Counting and Participation Insights
The Embassy’s two Special Boards of Election Inspectors (SBEIs) gathered to count the votes cast by 2,016 Filipinos, which is about 6 percent of the 31,000 registered voters under the embassy’s jurisdiction. Meanwhile, the Special Board of Canvassers (SBOC) consolidated these results in the presence of watchers and election observers to guarantee transparency and accountability across all eight posts.
Out of 188,519 registered voters spanning from Guam to Washington DC, a total of 9,806 Filipinos participated in this digital voting process. This reflects an overall turnout of 5.2 percent. Ambassador Romualdez noted, “Historically, midterm polls see lower turnout compared to presidential elections.”
Looking Forward: Enhancing Electoral Access for Filipinos Abroad
Despite the modest turnout, the embassy views this online voting initiative as the start of a more accessible, secure, and inclusive electoral process. “I thank our kababayan who participated and helped us implement this system with integrity and trust,” said Ambassador Romualdez.
The full election results are available at the embassy’s premises and can also be accessed online at Filipinokami.com. This new method aims to strengthen Filipino democracy by making sure overseas voices are heard and represented.