Overseas absentee voting for registered Filipinos in the CNMI will be through postal voting. The schedule of overseas voting in the CNMI will be from April 10 to May 10.
Ballots have been sent by the Commission on Elections to the Philippine Consulate General. The certified list of overseas absentee voters appears in the Comelec Web site (www.comelec.gov.ph) and may also be viewed at the consulate.
From March 22 to May 10, during office hours Mondays to Fridays excluding holidays, the ballots and corresponding instructions may be personally claimed at the consulate. Voters are advised to bring their passport or voter’s ID to the consulate for proper identification.
Registered overseas absentee voters may also claim their ballots at the consulate on the following special schedules:
• March 24 – (Wednesday, holiday in the CNMI), 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• March 28 and April 25 – (Sunday during the Sunday consular services), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Filipino absentee voters who cannot personally pick up their ballots on the above schedules are requested to call the consulate at 234-1848 to make arrangements on the method of claiming their ballots. Look for Romeo Garchitorena, Violaflor Enerlan-Ancheta or Lauren Arce.
Starting April 10, accomplished ballots could either be:
• Sent by mail directly to consulate (P.O. Box 500731 CK, Susupe, Saipan MP 96950 CNMI; or
• Brought directly to the consulate (5th floor, Marianas Business Plaza, Susupe Saipan).
Accomplished ballots will be received at the consulate on the following dates:
• April 10 (Saturday, first day) – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
• Mondays to Fridays excluding holidays – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• April 25 (Sunday, during the consular services) – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
• May 10 (last day) – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Counting and canvassing of votes will be held on the ground floor of the Marianas Business Plaza on May 10 at 8 p.m. Counting and canvassing of votes will be undertaken continuously until all ballots have been counted and canvassed.
The canvassed results of the overseas absentee voting in the CNMI will be brought directly by the chairman of the special board of canvassers to the Senate of the Philippines and the Comelec in Manila on the first available flight from Saipan to Manila after the canvassing of votes.
The Philippine Consulate General enjoins all registered Filipino overseas absentee voters to exercise their right to vote and to vote wisely for the candidates that will lead the nation through the following years.
