Low turnout seen in absentee voting registration

The Philippine Consulate General expects a low turnout in the ongoing absentee voting registration for the May 13, 2013, national election.

The registration and certification of qualified absentee voters began last Nov. 2, 2011, and will be done until Oct. 31, 2012, the last day that the consulate will remain open to the public.

Consul General Medardo Macaraig disclosed yesterday that only 33 Filipinos registered from Jan. 1, 2012, until yesterday, April 13.

Consulate records further showed that 40 more Filipino voters registered from Nov. 2 to Dec. 31, 2011, bringing the total number of registered voters to 73.

“Our numbers are not so good but it’s expected given that the Filipino population in the CNMI continues to decrease because of the unique situation we have here,” Macaraig told Saipan Tribune.

The drop in the Filipino population has been attributed mainly to the federalization of the CNMI immigration, but other factors are also factored in such as the continued economic decline on the islands.

With the low number of absentee voters, Macaraig expects this year’s number of absentee voters to be lower than that of the last absentee voting registration held from February to August 2009, which had a total of 7,169 registered absentee voters.

Of this number, only 3,341 voted during the May 2010 election.

Macaraig encouraged Filipinos in the CNMI who will be on the islands for the May 13, 2013, national election to exercise their right to vote by registering at the consulate.

Those who may register are qualified Filipino citizens who intend to vote abroad or who will be abroad on election day; Filipino citizens who will be turning 18 years old on or before the day of the election; dual citizens who have re-acquired or retained their Philippine citizenship under the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003; and immigrants or permanent residents who execute an Affidavit of Intent to Return upon filing of an application for registration as overseas absentee voter.

Registration requirements for overseas absentee voting are a valid Philippine passport and an accomplished OAV Form No. 1, which can be obtained at the consulate or downloaded and printed from the Commission on Election website, www.comelec.gov.ph/.

For more information, visit the Consulate at the 5th floor of the Marianas Business Plaza in Susupe or call 234-1850.