Extend Voter Registration and Allow Voting by Mail

A STATEMENT OF THE GLOBAL FILIPINO COMMUNITY:





SC RULING SPARKS SUFFRAGE MOMENTUM





The Supreme Court decision allowing dual citizens to vote without residency requirement has infused new life to the suffrage movement of global Filipinos. There is renewed hope that legislative and administrative constraints on the exercise of suffrage will disappear in due course.





We now respectfully ask the Commission on Elections to:





1. extend the deadline for OAVL voter registration to November 30, 2006;


2. allow voting by mail, during the May 2007 elections, in highly developed countries, such as the U.S., United Kingdom, Switzerland, European Union, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea; and


3. initiate steps for the eventual continuing OAVL voter registration by electronic means and mail.





The global Filipino community acknowledges the extension till September 30, 2006 of voter registration as announced by Comelec. Since the equipment for voter registration is already with Philippine consulates in different countries, the extension of voter registration, under proposal no. 1 above, should not adversely impact Comelecs finances. Proposal nos. 2 and 3 are authorized under the law. To deny voting by mail as proposed would violate the equal protection clause of the Constitution.





We take this opportunity of calling on:





1. global Filipinos who have acquired foreign citizenship to become dual citizens; and


2. all global Filipinos, who have not yet registered as voters, to make an effort, pending the availability of voter registration by electronic means or mail, to register to vote at the nearest Philippine consulate.





Dual citizenship has distinct advantages, without any disadvantage: (1) vote in two countries; (2) invest in land and any business reserved for Pilipinos; (3) practice licensed profession in the Philippines; (4) retire or extend stay without immigration worries; (5) the security and flexibility of two passports; (6) continue Veteran and Social Security benefits; and (7) no double taxation.








THE GLOBAL FILIPINO COMMUNITY





Partial List of Supporting Organizations





Global Filipinos Coalition; Global Filipinos Australia


National Federation of Filipino American Associations


San Francisco Filipino American Chamber of Commerce


Filipino Migrant Workers Group


SAPI-OFW Group Federation of Mindanao OCW-FEDMOC