Election 2022: Grounds for voters’ disqualifications from registering and voting under the Overseas Voting Act of 2013

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The Philippine Embassy in Vienna announced the grounds for voters’ disqualifications from registering and voting under the Overseas Voting Act of 2013 (R.A. No. 9189 as amended by R.A. 10590). The information is directed to all registered Filipino overseas voters in Austria, Croatia, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

Those who have lost their Filipino citizenship in accordance with Philippine laws;
Those who have expressly renounced their Philippine citizenship and who have pledged allegiance to a foreign country, except those who have reacquired or retained their Philippine citizenship under Republic Act No. 9225, otherwise known as the ‘Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003’;
Those who have committed and are convicted in a final judgment by a Philippine court or tribunal of an offense punishable by imprisonment of not less than one (1) year, such disability not having been removed by plenary pardon or amnesty: Provided, however, That any person disqualified to vote under this subsection shall automatically acquire the right to vote upon the expiration of five (5) years after service of a sentence; and
Any citizen of the Philippines abroad previously declared insane or incompetent by a competent authority in the Philippines or abroad, as verified by the Philippine embassies, consulates, or foreign service establishments concerned, unless such competent authority subsequently certifies that such person is no longer insane or incompetent.”

The Embassy has also been informed that some voters contained in its Return-to-Sender (RTS) List (http://bit.ly/no-address) are allegedly not included in the Certified List of Voters (CLOV). The Embassy urges former Filipinos who have renounced their Philippine citizenship and have received electoral packets in connection with the 2022 Philippine National Elections to inform the Embassy immediately.

The Embassy has checked its RTS List and CLOV and found this allegation untrue. Only those in the CLOV have been provided ballots, and all those in the RTS List are likewise in the CLOV.