Rome: Over 100 Filipinos have applied for overseas voting registration for the upcoming May 2028 national and local elections, as announced by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday. The registration, which resumed recently, has seen a notable turnout at the Philippine Embassy in Rome.
According to Philippines News Agency, the embassy processed 104 applications from December 1 to December 19, 2025, with the highest daily turnout recorded on December 18, when 32 applicants registered. This new wave of registrations follows the 2025 midterm elections, during which the embassy facilitated 18,647 registrations.
Philippine Ambassador Neal Imperial has encouraged Filipinos abroad to register and participate in the electoral process, emphasizing the significance of their contribution to nation-building and the election of competent leaders. To facilitate this, Comelec has launched the iRehistro platform for overseas voter registration. Interested applicants can visit irehistro.comelec.gov.ph/ovf1 to complete the OVF1 form, save the system-generated PDF, and print it on folio-sized paper.
The overseas voter registration period, which began on December 1, 2025, will continue until September 30, 2027. Eligible applicants include Filipino citizens aged 18 and above who will be abroad during the May 2028 elections. This includes overseas Filipino workers, immigrants, and dual citizens. Necessary documents for registration include a valid Philippine passport, a Seafarer's Record Book, or a Certificate of Approval for Retention/Reacquisition for dual citizens.
Applications can be submitted at Philippine embassies, consulates, cultural offices, or at the Office for Overseas Voting in Intramuros, Manila. In the previous year's elections, there were approximately 1.241 million registered overseas voters.
