FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE RESUMPTION OF CONTINUING REGISTRATION FOR QUALIFIED OVERSEAS FILIPINOS FOR PURPOSES OF THE 2016 NATIONAL ELECTIONS
QUESTIONS | ANSWERS |
| WHO MAY REGISTER AS OVERSEAS VOTER? | i) all citizens of the Philippines abroad who are at least eighteen (18) years of age on 9 May 2016, who is not a registered overseas voter and not otherwise disqualified by law; ii) Those who have reacquired or retained their Philippine citizenship under R.A. 9225 and other Filipino citizens with dual citizenship; |
| WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION AND AN APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION AS AN OVERSEAS VOTER? | An Application for Registration as an overseas voter is filed when one is not yet a registered voter in the Philippines. However, if one is already a registered voter in the Philippines, one files for an Application for Certification as an overseas voter. |
| WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR FILING MY APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION AS AN OVERSEAS VOTER? | You have to: a. Personally appear at any Foreign Service Post (FSP) of the Republic of the Philippines or at any designated Registration Centre outside the FSP or in the Philippines. For an updated list of registration centres in the Philippines, please check COMELEC (www.comelec.gov.ph) and DFA-OVS (www.dfa-oavs.gov.ph) website. b. Accomplish OVF No. 1; c. Submit/Furnish supporting documents;d. Submit to a biometrics capture |
WHAT DOCUMENT WILL I PRESENT TO THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMELEC IN THE EMBASSY, CONSULATE, MISSION OR DESIGNATED REGISTRATION CENTERS IN THE PHILIPPINES? | a. An accomplished OVF No. 1 as prescribed by the COMELEC; b. A valid Philippine Passport. In the absence of a passport, a Certification from the Department of Foreign Affairs certifying either of the following: (1) that you have submitted documents that will warrant the issuance of a passport; (2) that the applicant is a valid passport holder but is unable to produce it for a valid reason. c. If you are a Seafarer, a photocopy of your Seaman's Book or any other document that will prove that you are a seafarer should also be submitted in addition to "a" and "b" above; and,d. If you have availed of RA 9225, you should also provide a certified true copy of the signed Oath of Allegiance or Order of Approval submitted to the Embassy/Consulate in addition to "a" and "b" above. The COMELEC may require additional data to establish your identity. |
WHERE CAN I FILE MY APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION/CERTICFICATION AS AN OVERSEAS VOTER? | Before the authorized representatives of the COMELEC at any of the FSPs and MECOs or in specifically designated field or mobile registration areas outside the FSP. You can also file your applications at any Registration Centres in the Philippines. For an updated list of registration centres in the Philippines, please check COMELEC (www.comelec.gov.ph) and DFA-OVS (www.dfa-oavs.gov.ph) website. |
WHEN CAN I FILE MY APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION AS AN OVERSEAS VOTER? | For purposes of the 9 May 2016 elections you may file your application for registration/certification as an overseas voter from 6 May 2014 to 31 October 2015. Please inquire from any Embassy, Consulates, and Missions as to the exact scheduled registration days applicable to you. |
WHERE CAN I GET OVF NO. 1 AND OTHER OV REGISTRATION FORMS? | From the Philippine Embassies, Consulates General, Consulates, MECOs and other designated registration centres outside the FSP or in the Philippines. Forms may also be downloaded from the website of the COMELEC (www.comelec.gov.ph) or the Department of Foreign Affairs – Overseas Voting Secretariat (www.dfa-oavs.gov.ph). |
WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED TO FURNISH IN OVF NO.1? | OVF No. 1. has three (3) parts: Part 1. This part contains your Personal Circumstances. In addition, the name of your authorized representative in the Philippines must also be indicated, should you choose to appoint one. Part 2. The Oath that you must take Part 3. This portion shall be filled up by the RERB. |
IF I DOWNLOADED THE OVF NO. 1 FROM THE WEBSITE OF THE COMELEC OR THE DFA-OVS, HOW SHOULD I PROCEED WITH MY APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION AS AN OVERSEAS VOTER? | You have to: a. Accomplish OVF No. 1; b. Personally appear at any FSPs and MECOs or at any designated Registration Centres in the Philippines. For an updated list of registration centres in the Philippines, please check COMELEC (www.comelec.gov.ph) and DFA-OVS (www.dfa-oavs.gov.ph) website. c. Submit the accomplished OVF No. 1 together with your supporting documents; andd. Submit to a biometrics capture |
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SUBMIT TO A BIOMETRICS CAPTURE? | Biometrics capture means that your photograph, signature and fingerprint will be electronically recorded using a special digital equipment called Voter Registration Machine (VRM). |
MAY I SUBMIT MY ACCOMPLISHED OVF NO. 1 AND SUBMIT MYSELF FOR LIVE CAPTURE OF MY BIOMETRICS ON DIFFERENT DAYS? | No, you may not. The accomplished OVF No. 1 must be turned in on the same day that you intend to have your biometrics taken because even if you have submitted your OVF No. 1 but have not had your biometrics taken, your application will still be deemed NOT FILED. However, if on the day that you filed your application, the Voters Registration Machine (VRM) is defective or otherwise not available, you will be required to return on a different date when the machine becomes available. |
I AM A SEAFARER, HOW SHOULD I PROCEED WITH MY APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION AS AN OVERSEAS VOTER? | You have to: a. Personally appear at ANY FSPs and MECOs or at the designated Registration Centres in the Philippines. For an updated list of registration centres in the Philippines, please check COMELEC (www.comelec.gov.ph) and DFA-OVS (www.dfa-oavs.gov.ph) website. b. Accomplish OVF No. 1 indicating the specific address where you want your ballot to be sent; c. Submit the accomplished OVF No. 1 together with your supporting documents; and d. Submit to a biometrics capture. |
HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY APPLICATION HAS BEEN APPROVED? | You may regularly check the website of the COMELEC (www.comelec.gov.ph) or DFA-OVS (www.dfa-oavs.gov.ph) if your application has been approved. You may also check with your Embassy or Consulate. |
HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY APPLICATION HAS BEEN DISAPPROVED? | You will receive a Notice of Disapproval of your application by mail or any other modes of communication, from the Resident Election Registration Board (RERB) of the FSPs or MECOs which heard your application. |
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY APPLICATION HAS BEEN DISAPPROVED? | Within five (5) days from receipt of the Notice of Disapproval of your application, you or your authorized representative may file a Motion for Reconsideration before the Resident Election Registration Board (RERB) of the Post or with the RERB of the COMELEC in Manila. |
WHAT IS THE RESIDENT ELECTION REGISTRATION BOARD (RERB)? | It is the Board based in the FSPs or MECOs and COMELEC Central Office in Manila, which shall hear and act on all applications for registration/certification as overseas voter. |
WHAT IF THE RERB DENIES MY MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION OF THE DISAPPROVAL OF MY APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION? | You may file a Petition for Inclusion with the Municipal or Metropolitan Trial Court in Manila within ten (10) days from the receipt of the Notice of the denial. |
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY NAME HAS BEEN OMITTED, MISSPELLED OR ERRONEOUSLY WRITTEN IN THE NATIONAL REGISTRY OF OVERSEAS VOTERS (NROV)? | You may personally, or through your authorized representative, file with the OFOV or with the Post having jurisdiction over the voter's residence, an Application for Reinstatement in the NROV by accomplishing OVF No. 1D; or accomplish OVF No. 1E for CORRECTION OF WRONG ENTRIES/MISSPELLED NAMES/CHANGE OF NAME & OTHER ENTRIES IN THE VOTER'S ID/NATIONAL REGISTRY OF OVERSEAS VOTERS (NROAV) and submit the same to the COMELEC-OFOV or the Post having jurisdiction over the applicant's residence, not later than ninety (90) days before the start of voting period (10 January 2016). |
I REGISTERED AS AN OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTER IN 2007 AND I WAS ABLE TO VOTE IN THE 2007 AND 2010 NATIONAL ELECTIONS BUT WAS UNABLE TO VOTE IN 2013 NATIONAL ELECTIONS. DO I STILL NEED TO APPLY FOR CERTIFICATION TO VOTE ABROAD? | No, because your name is already listed in the Certified List of Overseas Voters (CLOV) and the National Registry of Overseas Voters (NROV) but if you fail to vote in the 2016 National Elections abroad, your name will be deactivated from the CLOV of your Embassy or Consulate. |
I REGISTERED AS AN OVERSEAS VOTER IN 2013 BUT I KNOW I WILL BE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY COME 9 MAY 2016. CAN I VOTE IN THE 2016 ELECTIONS? | Yes, you have to file a Letter-Request for Transfer of Registration Record (OVF No. 1B) before your Embassy or Consulate. |
I REGISTERED AS AN OVERSEAS VOTER IN 2013 BUT I KNOW I WILL BE IN THE PHILIPPINES COME 9 MAY 2016. CAN I VOTE IN THE 2016 ELECTIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES? | Yes, you have to file a Letter-Request for Transfer of Registration Record (OVF No. 1B) before your Embassy or Consulate or before the COAV in Manila. Upon receipt of approval of the request for transfer of registration record, you have to go to the office of your local election officer and submit CEF 1B (Local Application for Transfer) and have your biometrics taken. |
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