The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking to allow persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) to cast their votes via the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS).

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia, however, said the possible implementation of internet voting locally would be based on the outcome of overseas internet voting.

“If the internet voting is successful abroad, it can be done in the future here for people with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, even PDLs, we can do that by using (their) cellphones, laptops, iPads or voting stations in their areas,” the poll body chief said in a press conference after the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the poll body, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Public Attorney’s Office, and Bureau of Corrections on Thursday at the Chairman’s Hall, Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila.

“That can be done. That’s why we want to try this abroad first. It’s hard to just jump into internet voting without trying it,” he added.

A total of 76 foreign service posts, including the Manila Economic Cultural Office (MECO) and Mission, will conduct internet voting for the 2025 polls.

For the 2025 polls, PDLs will be voting either through a special polling place established in a jail facility or detention center or escorted voting in a regular polling place.

There are 68,448 registered PDL voters for the forthcoming elections.

Meanwhile, Comelec said there will be no extension of the Dec. 13 deadline for the registration of all online campaign platforms of national and local candidates in the May 2025 polls.

As of Dec. 11, there are a total of 7,302 national and local bets and political parties and party-list organizations that have filed their applications for registration online.

These include 43 senatorial aspirants, 7,085 local aspirants, and 174 party-list groups and political parties.

Under Resolution No. 11064, all candidates, party-list organizations, and political parties that will participate in the May 2025 polls are required to register their online campaign platforms including all official social media accounts and pages, websites, podcasts, blogs, vlogs, among others. (PNA)

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