Reaction Paper. DEC.

GMA wants Absentee Voting Act amended

Former President and now Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo wants a higher voter turnout from overseas Filipino overseas workers in the next Philippine election by giving them more access to registration centers all over the world.

Arroyo filed House Bill 3001 amending Republic Act 9189 also known as the Overseas Absentee Voting Act, which provides for the systems and procedures by which Filipino citizens residing or working abroad can vote in an election

Under the bill, registration for overseas absentee voting will be made more accessible to Filipinos worldwide by way of setting up field and mobile registration centers by the posts concerned.

Arroyo said of the total 364,187 overseas Filipinos who registered, only 233,092 cast their votes representing only 64%.

Arroyo explained that several factors were identified to have caused the low voter turnout such as shortened registration period, stringent voting requirements, limited voting facilities, limited days-off from work and cost considerations among others.

"This bill aims to enfranchise more Filipino overseas voters by relaxing restrictive provisions of the law which will surely give our countrymen abroad a stronger voice in choosing our leaders."

My Reaction

The former President file a house bill law that will allow Absentee Voting to register electronically and participate on the historic election voting of the Philippines. This will really help our fellow Filipino to participate more by giving them a more accessible way to register and vote.

This law will increase the absentee voting. Using such, technology will encourage more people to participate with less hassle on the part or the people and facilitators.

In addition, by implementing this law another problem will occur for example the legality of identity and security flaws. This may lead to another cheating issues. Moreover, even I do not trust Arroyo for what I know did many Scandals in her Presidency.

She may also use this law to cheat for she is the one behind this. Anyway, this bill is useful for our fellow Filipino. I hope this law will properly implemented without any scandals.

 Happy Holiday!