The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has authorized its Education and Information Department (EID) to hold public consultation on the plan to grant absentee voting rights for journalists and other media people starting with the May 10, 2010 presidential, congressional, local and party-list elections.

The Comelec en banc acted favorably on the memorandum of Commissioner Lucenito N. Tagle that media people be allowed to vote in absentia in next year’s major political exercise.

The deprivation of the right to vote of considerable number of journalists in the country during elections has become a serious cause of concern, Tagle stressed in his memorandum.

Tagle said inasmuch as they are customarily assigned to cover the elections in different parts of the country, journalists frequently miss the chance to cast their ballots in the furtherance of their duties.

“In this regard and in light of the media sector’s invaluable assistance during elections, may I respectfully request for authority from the Honorable Commission En Banc to organize a public consultation to explore the possibility of allowing media people to vote in absentia in the May 10, 2010 National and Local Elections,” Tagle further stated in his memorandum.

The Comelec, led by Chairman Jose A.R. Melo approved minute en banc Resolution No. 09-0376 granting Tagle’s request to conduct public consultation on absentee voting rights for journalists.

Aside from Melo, the resolution was signed by Commissioners Rene V. Sarmiento, Nicodemo T. Ferrer, Tagle and Armando C. Velasco.

Commissioners Leonardo L. Leonida and Elias R. Yusoph could not sign the resolution as they were not yet reappointed by President after their ad interim appointments lapsed when Congress adjourned last June 5 with the Commission on Appointments (CA) unable to act on their bid for confirmation.