'Lack of time and information':Overseas Filipinos in Australia voice concerns over low voter turnout

low voter turn out filipino

Commission on Election Chairman George Erwin Garcia explained that the new online voting system was designed to increase voter participation among Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). However, despite efforts to facilitate online voting, the turnout in Australia remained alarmingly low.


Key Points
  • Out of more than 19,000 registered voters, only a little over 3,000 participated.
  • Raul Diche of Bayan Australia believes that the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) was not adequately prepared for the implementation of the online voting system, which led to many voters being unable to participate.
  • According to Ness Gavanzo from Gabriela and secretary of the Welfare Mission for Migrants, voters may have lost enthusiasm due to the perceived lack of positive changes in the Philippines and their busy lives abroad.
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'Lack of time and information':Overseas Filipinos in Australia voice concerns over low voter turnout | SBS Filipino