Fewer than 200 in Hawai'i register for Philippine elections

By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer

Far fewer overseas voters than expected signed up to vote in the next Philippine national elections, according to the Honolulu consulate's preliminary estimates of local and international turnout.

In Hawai'i, about 150 people had registered under the Philippines' new overseas voter law by Tuesday's deadline, said Rolando Gregorio, consul general of the Philippines in Honolulu.

Officials here weren't sure how many people to expect locally, because many of the estimated 10,000 to 50,000 eligible voters are in the process of becoming naturalized U.S. citizens and may be worried about endangering their immigration status, Gregorio said.

Another new law enabling immigrants who were born in the Philippines to become dual citizens was expected to draw out more potential voters. However, a lingering requirement that they sign an affidavit pledging to return to the Philippines within three years appears to have discouraged some people from registering, he said.

Only five Philippine-born U.S. citizens began the process of becoming dual citizens by taking the oath of allegiance necessary to register as voters, Gregorio said.

The other documents and procedures required of dual-citizenship applicants have not been set, he added. The law has been in effect since Sept. 17, but the complete regulations won't be set until the end of this month.

About 5,000 Filipinos across the United States and a total of about 300,000 living abroad have registered to vote in the May 10 election, Gregorio said, falling short of registry expectations of 1 million worldwide.

In Hawai'i, it didn't help matters that there was a bus strike on through much of the registration period, he added. The consulate in Nu'uanu was the only site for enrolling, and many potential voters rely on public transportation.

The law could be revised again to improve turnout for future elections, he said, including the possible elimination of the required affidavit.

"I think (government officials) will review the regulations," he said. "They have to review why there is a very low turnout, and most likely they'll adopt measures that will be helpful to encourage Filipinos abroad to vote."

Reach Vicki Viotti at vviotti@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8053.