The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced that it is eyeing to solely use internet voting for overseas Filipino Absentee Voters should the plan to venture into it pushes through by the 2025 midyear polls.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said once internet voting rolls out and OFWs favor it, the agency will consider phasing out the current methods.
“Dapat secured, dapat maayos at may integridad ‘yung resukt, at kayang ma-verify kung talagang ‘yung results ay tama at tunay. Sisiguraduhin po natin ‘yan,” Garcia said.
“Kung after the 2025 election, nakita natin na mas pinatronize pala, mas ginusto pala ng mga Pilipino abroad ‘yung internet voting, halimbawa kung ipatutupad talaga natin sa 2025, at pagkatapos eh konting-konti na lang ang nag-avail ng in-person voting eh siguro nga mas maganda na pwede nang mawala ‘yung dalawang modes at matira na lang ‘yung internet voting,” he added.
Currently, Overseas Absentee Voters can vote via the in-person and mail-in modes.
Last year, over 34 percent of registered Overseas Absentee Voters did cast their ballots. This is a slight increase from the 31 percent record made in 2010.
