DFA Statement on the Postponement of the Pre-Enrollment Period for Online Voting

MANILA 08 March 2025 - The Department of Foreign Affairs welcomes the Commission on Elections' initiative and foresight to postpone the start of the pre-enrollment period for the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS) from 10 March to 20 March 2025. 

The Commission's decision to move the schedule of the pre-enrollment is proof of its commitment to safeguard the integrity of elections overseas. 

The Department hopes COMELEC's decision for postponement shall enable it to ensure that the OVCS passes all the testing and certification required by Republic Act 9369, the Election Automation Law of 2007, prior to its launch. 

The Department, for its part, is ready to implement the OVCS upon COMELEC's direction, and remains resolute and committed to fulfilling its mandate of administering the vote to registered Filipino overseas voters during the overseas voting period from 13 April to 12 May 2025. END