Filipinos in Riyadh line up to vote during the midterm elections. Saudi Arabia accounts for 326,285 out of the 1,822,173 registered Filipino overseas voters for 2019, data showed. (balikbayan.asianjournal.com)

The number of deactivated overseas voters has climbed from last month’s 313,101 to 578,185 as of 5 December, data gathered by the Department of Foreign Affairs showed.

The DFA Overseas Voting Secretariat said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has deactivated them for failing to participate in the 2016 and 2019 national and local elections. They are thus urged to register anew in order to vote in the 2022 presidential polls.

Registration will start 16 December and end 30 September 2021 at the following locations:

Any Philippine Embassy, Consulate General, Mission or Manila Economic and Cultural Office

• Overseas Voter Registration Centers designated by Comelec

All Filipino citizens who expect to be abroad from 9 April to 9 May 2022 during the overseas voting period for the 2022 elections, are at least 18 years old by 9 May 2022 and not otherwise disqualified by law may register as overseas voters.

The Comelec recorded a total of 1,822,173 registered overseas voters from the May midterm elections. (With a report from DFA)