MSP advises voters on deadline for ballot request by mail

A sample of a ballot for 2016 Philippine election (Twitter photo).

Migrante Sectoral Partylist (MSP) Canada Coordinator Maru Maesa advises registered overseas Filipino voters to submit their ballot requests by mail to the Special Ballot Reception and Custody Group (SBRCG) on or before April 22, 2016, the deadline set by the Commission on Election (COMELEC).

“Kailangan po nating ipaalam sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan ang panibago na namang development na ito ng Comelec. Ikalat po natin sa social media, sa Twitter, Facebook, sa lahat upang hindi maaksaya at mawalang-saysay ang ating mga boto,” (We need to inform our compatriots of this recent change by the COMELEC. Let us spread the word to everyone concerned via social media, Twitter, Facebook so that our votes are not wasted.), Maesa said.

The CCOMELEC has recently adopted the Automated Election System Modified Postal Voting (AESMPV) in its consular offices in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa for the upcoming elections which run from April 9 to May 9, 2016.

Overseas Filipino registered voters who want to have their ballots mailed are requested to file their written request personally or by email to the consular offices. The consular offices should receive their request letters on or before the set deadline of April 22. The request should include the voter’s complete mailing address. However, registered overseas voters who are able to go to their respective embassy or consulate can vote in person until May 9, 2016, 7 pm (Philippine time).  Meanwhile, MSP Canada presses its demand for mobile polling sites or satellite polling stations particularly in Alberta and Montreal. As per latest COMELEC count there are more than 1.3 million registered voters for the Overseas Absentee Voting.

MSP has been vocal about the Philippine government’s neglect of migrants despite the $21 Billion (U.S) remittances they receive from overseas Filipino workers, money which has practically kept the Philippine economy afloat all these years.

The group urges its fellow migrants to vote for people who will truly serve and protect their rights and welfare as echoed by MSP’s slogan “Serbisyo Hindi Negosyo, Proteksyon Hindi Koleksyon” (Service not business, protection not collection!)

Requests for ballots through mail may be sent to the following email, fax and phone numbers as provided by the COMELEC:

Toronto

– email at [email protected],

– fax at 416 922 2638 or

– phone at 416 355 2784 & 416 355 2790, ask for Rosalie and Roberto.

Vancouver

– email at [email protected]

– fax at 604 685 9945

– phone at 604 685 1619 or

– mail at Office Overseas Absentee Voting, Phil Consulate General. 999 Canada Place, Suite 660 Vancouver BC V6C 3E1

Ottawa

– email at [email protected]

– fax at 613 233 4165 or

– phone at 613 233 1121, ask for Rhodora Liggayu or Glen Richard Martinez