OAV a ‘game changer?'

The Commission on Election (Comelec) has every reason to be excited about the 1,301,598 Filipinos who have registered for the 2016 Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV).

An official of the Comelec described the figure as a “game-changer” that could translate to 5.2 million votes for national posts like the fight for the 12 Senate seats.

For the presidential and vice-presidential derbies, the 1.3 million votes of overseas Filipinos could certainly spell the difference between victory and defeat for those seeking to hold office in Malacañang and the Coconut Palace.

However, the total registered voters under the OAV is only half the story because of the still very low turnout during actual voting under the exercise.

Of the  737,759 registered OAV voters in 2013, only 113,209 were able to vote, representing a mere 15.35 percent. The 2013 turnout was even lower than the 25 percent in 2010 and the 16 percent in 2007.

For 2013, the Comelec expected a 60-percent turnout which, as can be seen from the above data, did not materialize.

In fact, Senate President Franklin Drilon asked the Comelec then to explain why despite the big budget allocated the OAV promotion, the 2013 turnout was a dismal one.

Still, 2016 being an election year for president and vice president, many OAV registrants can be expected to cast their votes to have a say on who get to be the top two Philippine officials.