Primer / Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the 2007 Senatorial and Party-List  Elections Overseas Absentee Voting - Hong Kong SAR

29 March 2007

1. Who can vote?

   • All Filipino nationals whose names appear in the Certified List of Overseas Absentee Voters (CLOAV) of  COMELEC.

2. When is voting for the 2007 Philippine Senatorial and Party-List elections in Hong Kong to be held?

   14 April - 13 May 2007	14 May 2007 (Monday, Last Day)
   9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Mon-Sat)	7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
   8:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Sun)

3. Where is the venue for this year’s  elections?

   • Bayanihan Centre, #55 Victoria Rd., Kennedy Town

4. What is needed to be able to vote?

   • Voter’s ID or HK ID or Philippine passport or any identification card that will prove your identity.

5. What positions can Filipinos in Hong Kong vote for in this year’s election?

   • Overseas Filipinos will cast their votes for twelve (12) Senators and one (1) Party-List Organization.

6. What is a Party-list representative?

   • He or she is a nominee of a party voted through the party-list system of representation but it is the party-list organization that will be voted for.  Said system of representation was put in place to ensure that underrepresented sectors in society would be given the chance to participate in the work of the Legislature.

7. Can we vote even without the voter’s ID?

   • YES.  The voter’s ID is not the only requirement for you to be able to vote.

8. Where can we check whether our names are listed in the CLOAV ?

   • Copies of the list of voters are now posted at the Philippine Consulate General and Bayanihan Centre and at the official website of COMELEC – www.comelec.gov.ph.

9. Am I allowed to also check on the names of members of my organization?

   • YES.  In fact, we are requesting our community leaders to check the names of their members, especially those who do not have time to go to the Consulate or Bayanihan Centre.  Simply inform them of their respective precinct and sequence numbers when you have your regular meeting.

10. We cannot personally go to the Consulate or Bayanihan Centre just to check if our names are listed in the CLOAV.  Can we just call the Consulate?

    • YES, you may call the following OAV Hotline of the Consulate, 2823-8539, to verify if your name is included in the CLOAV.  The hotline is open during office hours.

11. How do I know in which precinct I am supposed to vote?

    • When you check whether your name is listed in the CLOAV, you can also check which precinct you are supposed to vote in as well as your sequence number.

12. Can I still vote even if my name is not in the CLOAV?

    • YES, if your name is included in the List of Overseas Absentee Voters with Voting Records (LOAVVR).

13. How do I know if my name is included in the LOAVVR?

    • Request the assistance of the OAV Secretariat to have your name checked in said list which is in the custody of the respective SBEIs/precincts.   If your name is listed, you can be allowed to vote.

14. What happens if your name is not included in  the CLOAV and the LOAVVR?

    • You may write or call COMELEC (Attn: Commissioner Florentino Tuason, Jr., Chairman, Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting, COMELEC, 7/F, Palacio del Gobernador, Intramuros, Manila, Tel. 5222251, Fax 5239924, email coav@comelec.gov.ph) to find out the reason for the non-inclusion of your name.

15. Will I be allowed to vote if there are discrepancies in my name or date/place of  birth in the CLOAV?

    • YES, provided that you can present documents or identification cards to prove that the name listed in the CLOAV and yourself are one and the same person.

16. Can we vote even without the voter’s ID?

    • As soon as we receive the IDs from COMELEC, an announcement on their dissemination will be made.

17. Can we vote even without the voter’s ID?

    1. Check if your name is listed in the Certified List of Overseas Absentee Voters (CLOAV) and  get your precinct number and sequence number.

    2. Proceed to your assigned precinct located: 2/F, for precinct nos. 1-8; 4/F, for precinct nos. 9-14; or 5/F, for precinct nos. 15-22.

    3. Approach the Poll Clerk and give your name.  If any identification will be required, please present any of the following:

    4. Sign in the voters list and get your ballot from the Chairman of the Special Board of Election Inspectors.  Only one ballot per voter will be given.

    5. Proceed to the designated area for voters.  Find the list of candidates attached to the Ballot Secrecy Folder.   Silently fill out your ballot, writing either the full names or the nicknames of the candidates chosen.

    6. After voting, fold the ballot in the same manner given to you by the SBEI Chairman and return it to the Member Secretary.

    7. Put your thumb print in the voter’s list and the ballot coupon.

    8. The ballot coupon will be detached by the Member Secretary in your presence.   You must NOT detach the coupon yourself.  The ballot and an envelope for the ballot will be given to you.

    9. Put your ballot inside the envelope and seal it.

    10. Give the sealed envelope containing your accomplished ballot to the SBEI chairman who will then put it in the ballot box slit marked “valid”.

    11. Leave the precinct immediately after voting.   A one-way traffic scheme will be strictly implemented at Bayanihan.  (You cannot exit at the entrance nor enter through the exit).

    12. You may get your voter’s ID after voting, on your way out of the Bayanihan Centre.

    13. Please vote early, vote wisely, and vote responsibly.

    14. For any OAV-related query, you may call the OAV Secretariat at tel. nos. 2823-8533, 2823-8550 or 2823-8559.

18. Can I vote in HK if I am a registered voter in the Philippines or other countries?

    • No.  But if you wish to vote in HK in future elections, you may file a letter-request at COMELEC (see above address) to transfer your registration from the Philippines to HK.  Such letter-requests however will only be acted upon during the next registration of overseas absentee voters.

19. Can I vote in the Philippines if I am a registered voter in HK?

    • YES, if you filed on time for the transfer of your registration from HK to the Philippines and if such request has been approved by COMELEC.

    • YES, if you have voted in the Philippines in the last elections  and your name has not yet been removed from the list of voters in your place of residence.

    • NO, if you have filed for the transfer of registration and the request was not approved.  The deadline for requesting said transfer of registration was 30 November 2006.

20. Can I use my mobile phone while inside the polling place?

    • NO, cellular phones are not allowed inside the voting places.  Phones must be switched off or put in silent mode when voting

21. How long does it take to vote?

    • If you have prepared your own list of candidates to vote for prior to going to Bayanihan Centre, it may only take you about 5-10 minutes to actually cast your vote on weekdays.   However, voting is expected to take longer on weekends in view of the expected heavy voter turn-out.  It may take you 30 minutes to 2 hours to cast your vote especially on  Sundays and holidays.  Voters are therefore encouraged to vote on a weekday.

22.  Will the Consulate provide us a list of the candidates for the election ? When ?

    • YES, as soon as the official list is received from COMELEC.   The list of candidates is also attached to the ballot secrecy folder in each voting precinct which you will see when you vote.

23. If I accidentally deface my ballot, will I be given another one?

    • YES, but only once.  Your defaced ballot will be marked SPOILED.  If again, you accidentally deface your new ballot, you can no longer be allowed to vote.

24. I have some disability/ handicap and cannot vote by myself.  Will I be given assistance to vote?

    • YES, the members of the SBEI will provide assistance to those with disability (with vision problems, amputated fingers, non-literate, etc.)

25. If I get hungry inside the voting place, will I be allowed to eat inside the precinct?

    • NO, eating is strictly prohibited inside the voting centers.   Make sure to eat first before voting or bring some snacks with you which you can easily munch while waiting in the queue.   SBEI members, however, are exempted from this as they cannot leave their respective precincts to eat while voting is going on.

26. Can I leave my ballot blank if I do not want to vote for any of the candidates listed ?

    • YES, as long as you do not put any remarks or distinguishing marks in your ballot so as not to invalidate it;  you also have to follow the procedure for voting.

27. What happens if I am not able to completely  fill out my ballot?

    • No one can force you to vote for certain candidates against your will.   A voter may choose to fill out all of the blanks on his ballot or he may also choose to fill out only a few and leave the rest blank.

28. Will I be jailed or encounter problems with the HK Immigration if I do not vote?

    • No, voting is your right as a Filipino national and this is enshrined in our Constitution.  The HK government and its agencies have nothing to do with the Philippine overseas absentee voting, although, as a matter of courtesy, they have been informed that this election exercise is to take place.

29. What will happen if I choose not to vote in this year’s elections?

    • If you fail to vote for two consecutive elections, your name will be stricken off the list of registered voters by COMELEC and you will need to register again in order to take part in subsequent elections.

30. Can I request a letter from the Consulate so that my employer will allow me to vote on weekdays?

    • YES, please approach our OAV Secretariat if you need a copy of said letter.

31. How can I be certain that my vote will be counted?

    • If you strictly follow the procedure for voting and your ballot has not been declared SPOILED, you can be assured that your ballot will be counted.   All ballot boxes containing the accomplished ballots are sealed and guarded 24 hours in a secured place within the voting area.   A special group called Special Ballot Reception and Safekeeping Group is in charge of ensuring that the ballots and ballot boxes are safe and well-kept until their allocation to the different SBEIs for counting.

32. What are the instances when ballots are considered spoiled?

    • (a) If the serial number of the ballot coupon is not the same as previously issued to the voter; (b) The ballot coupon has been detached not in the presence of any member of SBEI;  and (c)  if the ballot is accidentally defaced by the voter such that it cannot be lawfully used.

33. How can I be assured that my ballot will be protected?

    • Two security guards on 24-hour shifts will be stationed at the voting place to ensure that the ballots are secured and protected.

34. When does the counting of ballots commence?

    • The counting of ballots starts at 3 p.m. on 14 May 2007, Monday, the last day of the elections.

35. Can I assist in the counting of ballots?

    • YES, if you have earlier volunteered as a member of the Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI), and have been issued the necessary appointment by COMELEC.

36. Is the counting of ballots open to the public?

    • YES, the counting of votes shall be conducted publicly and without interruption.  However, the availability of space will be taken into consideration.

37. How many precincts / SBEIs will do the counting of ballots?

    • As of today, there are 73 precincts/SBEIs to conduct the counting of ballots.  These SBEIs are duly appointed by COMELEC to perform said task.

38. Are the volunteer SBEI members capable to count our ballots?

    • YES, they have undergone training conducted by COMELEC representatives and “echo” trainings organized by the Consulate.   There are more trainings scheduled on 18 and 25 March and 12 May 2007, for both the voting and counting procedures.

39. Where will the canvassing of election returns be done?

    • The canvassing of election returns will be done at the premises of the Consulate General.

40. How long will the canvass of election returns take?

    • It will last until all the election returns submitted by the SBEI for counting have been canvassed.

41. Is the canvassing of election returns by the Special Board of Canvassers (SBOC) open to the public?

    • YES, the proceedings of the SBOC shall be open to the public.