Shanghai lockdown delays overseas absentee voting

Overseas absentee voting in Shanghai has not yet commenced due to the city's ongoing lockdown under its strict "zero Covid-19" policy.

The Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai is actively seeking permission from local authorities to allow the consulate to physically operate for absentee voting purposes.

The lockdown has resulted in the closure of the voting precinct, preventing the Consulate from opening it since April 10.

Election materials that arrived in March are still held up at Chinese Customs because the Consulate has been unable to retrieve them due to the lockdown restrictions.

Consul General Josel Ignacio stated that despite coordination with the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office, permission to open the consulate and allow voters to cast their ballots has not yet been granted due to COVID-19 concerns and the severity of the lockdown.