22 March 2019 LONDON—Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo is urging all Filipino registered voters in the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland to vote in the upcoming 2019 national elections. Ballots will be sent to all registered voters by post. Voting begins on 13 April and closes on 13 May, 10:00 a.m., UK time (UTC).
Those who changed addresses since the last time they voted are urged to inform the Embassy immediately via email (embassy@philemb.co.uk or london.pe@dfa.gov.ph). A scanned copy of the data page of the voter’s passport must be attached to the email. Voters are also urged to check if their names are in the list of certified overseas voters.
“Elections represent a critical period for our country,” said Ambassador Lagdameo. “The decisions we make during this simple exercise will have a profound impact on the Philippines in the years and decades to come. Election period is not simply about deciding who to vote for but it is a decision on the kind of future we want to have.”
Consul General Senen T. Mangalile also urged all registered voters in the UK and Ireland to refrain from voting at the 11th hour and to make the most out of the generous month-long voting period.
Around 31,000 Filipino citizens in the UK and Ireland are registered to vote for the upcoming midterm elections, with an additional 11,000 new registrations from December 2016 to September 2018. The Philippine Embassy conducted a massive campaign on voter registration until the overseas absentee voter registration period officially ended on 30 September 2018. The Embassy also registered overseas absentee voters during its consular outreach missions throughout the recent voter registration period.
There are more than 200,000 Filipinos in the UK and Ireland, with most of them concentrated in London. Over 90% of Filipinos in the UK are highly skilled professionals who are mostly in the healthcare, hospitality, creative, and academic industries.- Philippine Embassy London News