Turnout low in first online-only voting for overseas Filipinos
LOS ANGELES—The first online-only voting project for overseas Filipinos appeared to have attracted fewer voters if the low turnouts reported from consulates around the world are any indication.
“We were expecting bigger numbers. Unfortunately, it was not to be,” said Adelio Cruz, consul general of Los Angeles.
Out of the 34,557 registered voters in Southern California, parts of Nevada and Arizona covered in his area of jurisdiction, Cruz reported that only 1,131 voted online, showing a measly turnout of 3.27 percent.
This phenomenon seem to reflect a similar pattern in the 2022 elections where only 600,000 of some 1.6 million Filipinos registered abroad voted.
Different picture
The online-only voting rolled out during the recently concluded midterm elections was pushed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) a year ago to make it easier for Filipinos in different parts of the world to exercise their right of suffrage, using only their computers and cell phones.
With a massive information campaign and a war chest of at least P1.42 billion, the Comelec envisioned that the online-only voting would save taxpayer money and encourage a higher turnout.
But final tallies trickling from consulates and embassies abroad showed a different picture.
“The global observation of our diplomats seem[s] to point to this low turnout,” Cruz said.
“This appears also to be the birth pains of this new technology,” he added, referring to this electronic-based, direct-to-internet voting.
‘Not happy at all’
But voters still reported some confusion and degree of chaos during the duration of the online voting from April 3 until May 12.
One of those overwhelmed by the new scheme was Cornelio Manzano, an 86-year-old retiree from Laguna, who expressed his frustration that he was not able to vote.
“I am not happy at all. I came here to the consulate hoping I could vote and then they told me voting ended last night,” lamented Manzano, who expected to use the consulate’s computer to vote online for the first time.
“Our team really went beyond the call of duty to do this outreach to voters. We wanted a lot more. But it was not meant to be,” Cruz said.
The final tally of the winning senatorial candidates in LA and their respective votes:
1) Bam Aquino – 616
2) Kiko Pangilinan – 595
3) Heidi Mendoza – 502
4) Bong Go – 437
5) Rodante Marcoleta – 419
6) Bato dela Rosa – 417
7) Luke Espiritu – 369
8) Ping Lacson – 345
9) Vic Rodriguez – 334
10) Jimmy Bondoc – 338
11) Teddy Casiño – 322
12) France Castro – 306
