InterAksyon.com | Comelec mulls pilot test of online voting among seamen, OFWs in Middle East

By: Jet Villa, InterAksyon.com
February 12, 2014 11:36 PM

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections is considering a pilot test of online voting among overseas Filipino workers (OFW), according to Comelec Commissioner Lucenito Tagle. 

Tagle said voting via the Internet is authorized under Republic Act 10590 or the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2013. Under the law, the Comelec “may explore other more efficient, reliable and secure modes or systems, ensuring the secrecy and sanctity of the entire process, whether paper-based, electronic-based or internet-based technology or such other latest technology available.”

If the poll body's plan pushes through, the agency will conduct the trial among seamen and land-based OFWs in the Middle East for the 2016 elections. 

“We are eyeing seafarers because they are the ones who have difficult in voting and land-based workers in the Middle East because they are the ones who are usually not allowed by their employers to skip work to vote,” Tagle said.

But the Comelec isn't expected to abruptly decide on the matter even with a law that permits it because of security issues associated with online voting, according to Tagle.  

“If ever, this may have to be approved by the JCOC (Joint Congressional Committee on Elections). A bidding will have to be done. So there is really a long process that we have to do,” he said.