Overseas Filipinos to vote April 10 to May 9

Philippine embassies and consulates are preparing for overseas voting from April 10 to May 9, where over 1.6 million registered Filipinos will choose national candidates ahead of the May 9 local elections.

Overseas Filipinos can vote either in person at designated polling places or by mail, depending on the mode of voting implemented in their host country.

For postal voting, Philippine posts are responsible for mailing ballots to voters, who must return them promptly by May 9 to be counted.

Despite the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) previous declaration of readiness, migrant leaders have expressed concerns about the preparedness of diplomatic posts due to insufficient outreach and information.

These concerns are particularly worrying for first-time overseas voters, raising doubts about the effectiveness of the voting process abroad.