The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday reminded Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) that they have only eight days from today or until August 31 to register as overseas absentee voters if they want to vote in the May 10, 2010 presidential, congressional, local and party-list polls.

Commissioner Nicodemo T. Ferrer, chairman of the Comelec Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting (COAV), said OFWs desiring to enlist for next year’s major political exercise are required to submit valid Philippine passports to establish their identities.

Ferrer said that in the absence of a valid passport, a certification by the Department of Foreign Affairs that it has reviewed the appropriate documents submitted by the applicant and found them sufficient to warrant the issuance of a passport, or that the applicant is a holder of a valid passport but is unable to produce the same for valid reason is necessary.

In the case of a seafarer, a photocopy of his Seaman’s Book or any other pertinent documents would suffice for the purpose of registering as overseas absentee voters, Ferrer said.

He said that in the case of a dual citizen, the original of certified true copy of the Order of Approval of his application to retain or reacquire his Filipino citizenship or Oath of Allegiance issued by the Post or the Bureau of Immigration must be presented.

Post refers to the Philippine embassies, consulates, foreign service establishments and other Philippine government agencies maintaining offices abroad having jurisdiction over the places where the overseas absentee voters temporarily reside.

The applicant is required to personally appear before the representative of the Comelec at the Post that has jurisdiction over the locality where he temporarily resides.

In the case of seafarer, he may file his application personally at any Post or at the designated registration centers in the Philippines, Ferrer said.