PRESS RELEASE

MSP ADVISES VOTERS ON DEADLINE FOR BALLOT REQUEST BY MAIL

By Luisito Queano
Migrante Sectoral Partylist
March 16, 2016



Advisory on Ballot by Mail

Migrante Sectoral Partylist (MSP) Canada Coordinator Maru Maesa advises registered overseas Filipino voters to submit their ballot requests by mail to the Special Ballot Reception and Custody Group (SBRCG) on or before April 22, 2016, the deadline set by the Comelec.

"Kailangan po nating ipaalam sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan ang panibago na namang development na ito ng Comelec. Ikalat po natin sa social media, sa Twitter, Facebook, sa lahat upang hindi maaksaya at mawalang-saysay ang ating mga boto," Maesa said.

The Comelec has recently adopted the Automated Election System Modified Postal Voting (AESMPV) in its consular offices in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa for the upcoming elections which run from April 9 to May 9, 2016.

Overseas Filipino registered voters who want to have their ballots mailed are requested to file their written request personally or by email to the consular offices. The consular offices should receive their request letters on or before the set deadline of April 22. The request should include the voter’s complete mailing address. However, registered overseas voters who are able to go to their respective embassy or consulate can vote in person until May 9, 2016, 7 pm (Philippine time).  As per latest Comelec count there are more than 1.3 million registered voters for the Overseas Absentee Voting.

MSP has been vocal about the Philippine government's neglect of migrants despite the $21 Billion (U.S) remittances they receive from overseas Filipino workers, money which has practically kept the Philippine economy afloat all these years.

The group urges its fellow migrants to vote for people who will truly serve and protect their rights and welfare as echoed by MSP's motto "Serbisyo Hindi Negosyo, Proteksyon Hindi Koleksyon.”

Requests for ballots through mail may be sent to the following email, fax and phone numbers as provided by the Comelec:

TORONTO
·       email at ,
·       fax at or
·       phone at & , ask for Rosalie and Roberto.
VANCOUVER
·       email at
·       fax at
·       phone at  or mail at Office Overseas Absentee Voting, Phil Consulate General. 999 Canada Place, Suite 660 Vancouver BC V6C 3E1
OTTAWA
·       email at 
·       fax at  or
·       phone at , ask for Rhodora Liggayu or Glen Richard Martinez