PCGNY.net | News Release

COMELEC FURTHER EXTENDS ABSENTEE VOTING REGISTRATION TO OCTOBER 31, '06

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE - NEWS RELEASE
21 September 2006

NEW YORK --- Philippine Consul General to New York, Cecilia Rebong, recently announced that the Philippine Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has extended the deadline of registration for overseas absentee voting to October 31, 2006. This would be the second extension of the registration deadline to be made by the COMELEC. The first extension moved the original registration deadline from August 31 to September 30.

Rebong said that “the COMELEC approved the extension of registration primarily to accommodate dual citizens.” She noted that “there has been a dramatic increase in the number of dual citizens registering as overseas absentee voters after the Philippine Supreme Court ruled that dual citizens can vote even without complying with the residency requirement in the Constitution.” The Philippine Constitution requires voters to actually reside in the Philippines at least one year before the elections, and at least six months in the municipality where they intend to vote. The Supreme Court said this residency requirement did not apply to dual citizens.

The Philippine Consulate General in New York will continue to be open to the public for all consular services from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M., every Monday and Tuesday, up to September 30.