OFW Voters Reach 1.4 M: Game-Changer Says DFA
The number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) has reached a total of 1,376,067, majority are based in the Middle East and Africa, where some 550,000 active registered voters reside.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Rafael E. Seguis said that 1.3 million overseas voters could be “game-changers.”She disclosed that OFW sector could bring about 5.2 million votes if each OFW could influence at least three family members.
“Since overseas Filipinos are considered to be their family’s bread winners, it is not a stretch to surmise that each overseas Filipino can influence the vote of at least three family members. Thus, the 1.3 million active registered overseas voters are roughly equivalent to 5.2 million votes. This is a definite game changer for Philippine politics,” he said.
Majority of overseas Filipino voters are from the Middle East and Africa, where some 550,000 active registered voters reside. It is followed by the 250,000 voters in the Americas while about 150,000 voters are in Europe, and 320,000 voters are located in Asia and the Pacific.
This year’s total is double the number of OFW voters during the midterm elections last 2013 which was only 737,759.
The Comelec advises the overseas voters to go online and check their names in the Certified List of Overseas Voters to verify if their registrations have been approved by the Resident Election Registration Board.