Glitches, complaints mar first day of overseas absentee voting in some countries



Glitches marred the conduct of the overseas absentee voting in several countries over the weekend, according to a report on Balitanghali on Monday.
An OFW in Hong Kong, for example, had a hard time inserting her ballot to the vote-counting machine. "Pangpitong beses bago siya fully pumasok doon sa Smartmatic machine," she said.
Despite this, the Philippine Consulate said the glitches were only minor and were immediately addressed.
"Yung sinasabing glitches is even less than 10  or five. Pero na-address na po 'yan," Consul General Antonio Morales said.
Meanwhile, another OFW got dismayed after her ballot was rejected due to supposed overvoting.
"May lagnat pa ako at ubo...pumunta lang ako dito para bumoto kaya sobrang sakit ng dibdib ko na ganon ang lumabas. Sama ng pakiramdam ko, bakit nag-overvote," Haydee Fernandez said.
In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, some Filipinos were not able to cast their votes because their names were not included on the list.
One, on the other hand, said it took her an hour to find her name on the list. Another complained that her voting receipt got ripped while being printed.
The authorities in the area said they will copy furnish the Commission on Elections (Comelec) with the names of those who had not been able to vote.
An OFW in Qatar experienced the same dilemma while some voters had been called out after being caught taking pictures of their ballots.
The first days of overseas absentee voting in Dubai had been generally smooth and peaceful.
In Rome, a substantial voter turnout was recorded.
There are 83 Philippine embassies, consulates, and foreign posts around the world and registered Filipino voters may cast their ballots until May 13, 2019.
The overseas absentee voting, however, will not be held in some conflict-ridden areas such as Damascus in Syria, Tripoli in Libya, and Baghdad in Iraq. —Dona Magsino/KBK, GMA News

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