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Overseas Absentee Voting Act
of 2003
What is the Overseas
Absentee Voting Act of 2003?
Republic
Act No. 9189, also known as "The Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003",
is the law that ensures equal opportunity to all qualified citizens of the Philippines
abroad in the exercise of their right to participate in the election of president,
vice-president, senators and partylist representatives.
Who are qualified to participate under the Overseas Absentee Voting Act?
All Filipino citizens, not otherwise
disqualified by law, at least eighteen (18) years of age on the day of the election,
and who are registered overseas absentee voters with approved application to vote
in absentia, may vote for president, vice-president, senators and partylist Representatives.
How may a Filipino citizen become
a registered overseas absentee voter? Filipino
citizens abroad or Filipino citizens in the Philippines who will be abroad on
Election Day may become registered overseas absentee voters by filing an application
for registration or certification as overseas absentee voters. Is
a registered overseas absentee voter automatically entitled to vote? No,
a registered overseas absentee voter must have an approved application to vote
in absentia to be entitled to vote for president, vice-president, senators and
partylist representatives. Where
may application forms be obtained? Application
forms may be obtained from: * The Philippine
embassies, consulates and other foreign service establishments, *
The Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting at the Central Office of the Commission
on Elections, Intramuros, Manila, and *
The Office of the Election Officer in every city/municipality/district. They may
also be downloaded from the websites of the Commission on Elections and the Department
of Foreign Affairs (www.comelec.gov.ph and www.dfa.gov.ph.) respectively.
Source: http://www.oavs.dfa.gov.ph Click
here for the full text of the
Overseas Absentee Voting Act | 
