15 August 2014 - Since the start of the overseas voters registration on May 6 and up to August 13, the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh has registered 7511 Filipinos for overseas voting and continues to record a high daily registration.

Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ezzedin Tago observed that the high turnout is due to the new initiative by the Department of Foreign Affairs to include verification of voter’s registration status for all clients of passport renewal and other consular services. 

Ambassador Tago said “Since the new procedures, everyday we process about 400 new registrants for overseas voting.  We have five encoders for overseas voters registration working non-stop during working hours and we ask everyone’s patience as we work to ensure that everyone completes the registration procedure as quickly as possible.”

The Embassy will soon upload the application forms on the front page of its website, in case anyone wishes to download the form and complete it before coming to the Embassy.  Some information may not be readily known to the applicant, and would require that the applicants check with their records to enable them to complete the form.

The Embassy reminds all Filipinos that registration for overseas voting started on May 6 and will continue until 31 October 2015. Filipinos who previously registered but did not vote for two consecutive elections will need to undergo registration.  In addition, Filipinos now may register in the Riyadh even if they are voting in another country or in the Philippines. END