House leader: Online voting for overseas Pinoys a matter of right

The online voting option for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) is a matter of right, House committee on overseas workers affairs chairperson and Tingog party-list Representative Jude Acidre said Friday.

Acidre was responding to the petition filed by the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party asking the High Court to stop the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from implementing online voting for OFWs, saying online voting is not provided under the existing Automated Election Law.

As such, PDP-Laban also asked the Supreme Court to nullify Comelec resolutions providing for online voting for OFWs.

“If there is anything that our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) can do to make their voices heard as to how the country is governed, this is [by] being able to cast their vote. In this case, the use of the online platform is the most effective way to ensure political participation of our OFWs,” Acidre said at a press conference.

“This has been in the pipeline for the longest time, and the government has spent a lot of time to pull this off...para masigurado po na ang karapatang bumoto ng mga Filipino overseas ay maigagalang at maisasakatuparan,” added Acidre, who sits as House chairperson on the Overseas Workers Affairs committee.

(The online voting is there to ensure that the overseas Filipinos’ right to vote is respected and executed.)

In response to the petitioners, Comelec chairperson George Garcia has said that  the Overseas Absentee Voting Act allows internet voting as the law authorizes the poll body to “explore other modes or systems using automated election systems.”

Of the 90 Philippine diplomatic posts abroad, 77 will participate in the first-ever online voting and counting systems (OVCS) and 16 will use the automated counting machines.

Acidre also appealed to the petitioners to weigh the possible consequences of their actions on the OFWs.

“They should ponder on the consequences of this action, because this could mean derailing, preventing the voice of the OFWs to be heard. I hope there will be no delays for our OFWSs when it comes to exercising their right,” Acidre said.

Based on Comelec records, there are 1.2 million registered overseas absentee voters for the 2025 polls. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.