GOVERNMENT employees, uniformed personnel, and members of the media have until March 7, 2022 to apply for the local absentee voting (LAV) for the May 2022 polls.
Based on Resolution 10725, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said individuals qualified for the LAV are urged to file their applications to be able to vote from April 27 to 29, 2022.
"Applicants, who will avail [themselves] of the local absentee voting, shall file their duly accomplished Application Forms (LAV Form No. 01) not later than March 7, 2022," said the Comelec.
Qualified to apply are government officials and employees, members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that are active registered voters.
"In case of government officials, members of the PNP, and AFP, they are assigned temporarily to perform election duties in places where they are not registered voters," said the Comelec.
Their applications must be filed before their heads of offices/supervisors/commanders/officers next-in-rank.
Also qualified to apply are members of the media, including journalists, documentary makers, bloggers, as well as production and technical personnel, and their support staff.
"In case of media voters, they will not be able to vote due to the performance of their functions in covering and reporting on the conduct of elections," noted the poll body.
Their applications will be filed at the Office of the Regional Election Director (ORED) of the National Capital Region (NCR), for those in Metro Manila; at the Office of the City Election Officer (OCEO) for those in highly urbanized or independent cities outside the NCR; and Offices of the Provincial Election Supervisor (Opes) for areas not mentioned earlier.
Under the LAV, selected qualified voters are allowed to vote for president, vice president, senators, and party-list organizations at a date earlier than Election Day.
Their votes, however, will not be counted until the close of voting hours on Election Day.
The Comelec en banc has designated Commissioner Socorro Inting as the chairperson of the Committee on Local Absentee Voting. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)