Riyadh — The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh successfully started the month-long automated elections for overseas voters at the Embassy and the International Philippine School in Al Khobar on April 13, 2019.
Enthusiastic voters lined up as early as 7:00 a.m. in order to exercise their civic right and duty. In Riyadh, 533 voters out to cast their ballots during the first day of voting, while there were 340 voters in Al Khobar that day.
Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Adnan V. Alonto cast his vote on the first day of automated elections. He urged all registered Filipinos in Saudi Arabia to exercise their right to suffrage.
“It is the primary duty of every Filipino to choose our officials,” said Ambassador Alonto. “Hinihikayat ko ang mga kababayan na bumoto at makilahok sa pagpapanday ng kinabukasan ng ating bayan (I urge citizens to vote and take part in building the future of our country).”
Saudi Arabia accounts for 326,285 out of the 1,822,173 registered Filipino overseas voters for 2019, with three voting venues. Riyadh has 169,300 registered voters under its Certified List of Overseas Voters (CLOV), while Jeddah has 103,235 and Al Khobar has 53,750 voters.
The precints in the area are open to qualified voters starting that day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., including weekends and holidays. On the last day of voting on 13 May 2019, the Embassy is open to accept voters from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Al-Khobar, in time for the closing of polls in the Philippines that day at 6:00 p.m.
Voters are advised to bring proper identification (Philippine passport, voter’s ID, seaman’s book or iqama) and avoid overvoting for their votes to be counted. Overseas voters can vote for up to 12 senators and one party list.
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