4 days ago
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A VOTER education initiative, entitled, The Power of Your Vote, spearheaded by MaryJane Salomon, a concerned citizen, social advocate, and founder and CEO of Stratoppo Global, will be held in Hong Kong this coming April 6, 2025.
VOTER EDUCATION Join this event for overseas Filipino voters and learn about the power of your vote. IMAGE FROM STRATOPPO GLOBAL
"As this will be the first time that internet or online voting will be made available for Filipino overseas voters, I am compelled to step up, do my share, and offer my contribution to nation-building, which is to actively advocate voter education," said Salomon.
Online voting has not been used in previous national and local elections. It will be implemented, for the first time, via an online counting system in the coming May 2025 national elections but only for overseas voters registered in selected 77 posts of the Philippine embassies and consulates around the world, including Hong Kong.
"Provision of voter education is the key to a stronger democracy and empowered citizenry - voters should know their rights, know the issues, and vote with purpose," added Salomon.
The Commission on Elections stated that the potential benefits of internet voting include accessibility for voters and reduced costs associated with voting by mail or personal voting. Registered overseas Filipino voters can now vote using their smartphones, tablets, laptops, or computers, from home and wherever as long as there is internet connectivity.
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In the 2022 elections and despite the pandemic, Hong Kong posted 64 percent voter turnout, much higher than the voter turnout, in terms of percentage, of all overseas voters from around the world, which is only 40 percent more or less.
"Voter education is my advocacy. Back in 2019, we started a voter education project, the first of its kind in Hong Kong. Now in 2025, this public service initiative aims to spotlight the importance of voter education, a right that should be afforded to all and a valuable opportunity to be given to every registered voter. The power of vote is only effective when voters are well informed," concluded Salomon.
