Filipinos in Russia Flock to the Embassy on First Weekend of Overseas Voting

Top left photo: Embassy’s Special Ballot Reception and Custody Group (SBRCG) member Cherry Narvaez receives a ballot from an overseas voter on the first day of elections at the Philippine Embassy in Moscow on 13 April 2019. Top right left photo: Some 30 Filipinos in Moscow, majority being women, visited the Embassy on the first day of overseas voting to cast their votes. Bottom photo: Ambassador to Russia Carlos D. Sorreta greets and assists Filipinos who visited the Embassy on the first day to cast their votes as well as the Philippine media correspondents who covered the first day of voting. (V. Cara photos)

MOSCOW 02 May 2019 – The Philippine Embassy in Moscow kicked off the 2019 overseas absentee voting with active support from members of the Filipino community in Russia and Philippine media correspondents.

Some 30 overseas voters cast their votes on the first day, 13 April 2019, majority of whom were women. Most Filipinos who visited the Embassy to vote expressed their satisfaction in being able to do their civic duty.

“We’re pleased by the strong support and good turnout of the Filipinos on the first day of voting. We know that most Filipinos here in Russia have time to come to the Embassy only on weekends,” said Ambassador to Russia Carlos D. Sorreta. “I would also like to commend our Filipino Community for helping us spread the word about the 2019 overseas voting through social media. We’re optimistic that more Filipinos will come to the Embassy to cast their vote in the coming days.”

During the first weekend of overseas voting, the Embassy also sent a team to the city of Saint Petersburg to conduct a mobile voting mission combined with assistance-to-nationals consultation services. In Saint Petersburg, more than 30 Filipinos claimed their ballots and cast their votes on 14 April 2019.

In a recent ruling by the Commission on Election, all Filipinos who are active registered overseas voters may cast their votes at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate nearest to their current residence.

The Embassy encourages all Filipinos who have recently moved to Russia, Armenia, Belarus and Kazakhstan to check if they are overseas voters registered with active status. All active overseas voters who now live and work in the countries aforementioned, regardless of where they have registered, may proceed to the Embassy to cast their votes. END

For more information, visit www.moscowpe.dfa.gov.ph, or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinRussia/ or https://twitter.com/phlinrussia