Automated polls for Pinoys overseas

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday announced that it will also implement an automated election system for absentee voters abroad but only in areas with a significant number of Filipinos.

Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said among the areas where Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines will be provided are in Hong Kong, Singapore and some areas in the Middle East.

He said the PCOS machines will be brought and stored in Philippine embassies and consulates.

There are some 140,000 Filipinos in Hong Kong, more than 150,000 in Singapore and about two million in the Middle East.

Jimenez said with the use of automated system, the voting period in those areas will only be on May 10, 2010.

However, he said the other areas where overseas absentee voting (OAV) will be held would still use the manual system.

"For the rest of the world, usual rules of OAV will apply. They will be able to vote about a month before Election Day. They will need much time really to send their ballots in by mail," Jimenez stressed.

Under the manual system, Filipinos abroad would be sent individual forms containing the official ballot along with the general instructions on how to fill-up and mail back the filled-up ballot.

The ballots will then be collected, counted and tallied in Philippine posts abroad before being sent back to the country in time for the canvassing by the National Board of Canvassers.

Jimenez said they are looking at around 750,000 registered voters for the 2010 polls.

There were about 500,000 registered OAV voters for the 2007 midterm elections – Gerard Naval

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