Special elections in COVID-hit Shanghai to push through, says Comelec

Despite the prevailing COVID-19 epidemic controls in southern China, overseas voter turnout at the Consulate General reached an all-time high of 34.4% at the close of the 2022 National Elections on 9 May. The previous record was 26.0% set in the 2019 elections. Consul General Alferez lauded Filipinos in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Hunan for dutifully exercising their right through postal voting. Image from PH Consulate in Guangzhou / Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — A special election will be held in Shanghai in China—which is currently under lockdown—so as not to disenfranchise Filipino voters there, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Friday.

Comelec acting spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said that out of the 26 overseas certificates of canvass (COC), Comelec has received 25. The only one left is that from Hongkong, which covers votes from Hongkong, Macau, and mainland China.

“Hongkong and Macau are okay na. The problem is mainland China because of Shanghai. There’s a lockdown in Shanghai, hindi ma-complete na 100 percent kasi wala pa po tayong elections sa Shanghai,” Laudiangco said.

“They are still under strict lockdown,” he added.

But the Comelec is determined to hold a special election there, said Laudiangco. He said there are 1,991 overseas voters in the Chinese city.

“We will proceed with the Shanghai special elections. Di kami pwede mag-disenfranchise ng voters, karapatan nila ‘yan. Kahit meron na tayong proclamation—kung hindi makakaapekto—karapatan po nila ‘yan. Hindi natin pwedeng alisin yan,” Laudiangco said.

“Hinihintay nating i-lift ng China ang lockdown sa Shanghai. Secondly, kung papayagan na kami magdala through the postal system,” he added.

Laudiangco said the Comelec en banc is now looking at allowing for the COC from Hongkong—excluding the votes from Shanghai—to be delivered to the Philippines.

RELATED STORY:

Comelec suspends April 10 absentee vote in Shanghai amid lockdown

EDV