Monday, October 23, 2006

Internet Voting for Italians Abroad?

The ANNOTICO Report

It's just a tease, but why not?

Filipino Overseas Workers (FOW) will be able to vote in their National Elections in ITALY, Hong Kong and Singapore.  

These three areas, have the largest number of registered overseas Filipino voters, and have access to the Internet. 

The US is Not being considered because the number of voters who registered was too small. 

Internet Voting is ONE FOURTH the COST of Snail Mail, Two weeks FASTER, and has Impressive SECURITY features.

For the 2007 Elections 500,000 FOWs are expected to Register.

3.5 Million Italians Abroad were Eligible to Vote in 2006, and about 3 Million did.

INTERNET VOTING BEING MULLED FOR OFWs IN HONG KONG,SINGAPORE, ITALY.

GMA7

By Veronica Uy
INQ7.net
October 23, 2006

THE Commission on Elections is seriously considering Internet voting for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Italy, it was learned Monday.

In a phone interview, commissioner Florentino Tuason said Filipinos in these three areas, which also have among the largest number of registered overseas voters, have access to the Internet.

We are seriously considering Internet voting for overseas Filipinos (in these areas), he said.

Tuason, commissioner in charge of the overseas absentee voting (OAV), said he has already met with the Spanish supplier of the software for Internet voting twice and had been impressed by the security features of the program.

It's a software that ensures secure voting, he said, adding that the software costs much less -- P25 million per 500,000 voters -- compared to snail or surface mail, which costs P57 million per 250,000 voters.

Asked why Filipinos in the United States are not being considered for inclusion in the program, Tuason said the number of voters who registered there was too small.

But he said the final decision on whether to adopt Internet voting would depend on the advisory council's technical assessment of the software and the Department of Foreign Affairs' verification of the three specified countries' Internet capability.

He added that the conduct of OAV would depend on whether or not there would be elections next year.

That's assuming there will be elections kasi wala pa naman decision ang SC sa Cha-cha (because the Supreme Court has not yet rendered a decision on Charter change), he said.

Tuason said that if the high tribunal decides for Charter change, then there would not be any OAV as the law allows voting only for president, vice president, senators, and party-list representatives.

In the 2004 elections, some 250,000 of the 350,000 OAV registrants voted.

For the 2007 polls, some 150,000 are expected to register in addition to the 350,000. Filipinos have until the end of the month to register for OAV.

http://newsinfo.inq7.net/breakingnews/

nation/view_article.php?article_id=28229

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