Although overseas absentee voting (OAV) yielded a low turnout, the number of Filipinos abroad casting their votes in OAV seems to be picking up with 16,879, citing reports from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

As of Wednesday, Comelec reported that voter turn-out increased from 6,641 over the weekend to 16,879. Hong Kong still recorded the highest number of voters at 4,111 followed by Los Angeles, U.S with 1,031.

A Comelec official said the number is still very low because it is just 3 percent of a total of 589,830 registered overseas absentee voters who have supposedly cast their votes in 93 embassies and consulates of the Philippines for the May polls.

The poll body released a report of other foreign posts included in the top 10 with high voter turn-out for OAV namely New York City, Riyadh, Alkhobar and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, London, Singapore, Chicago, Japan, and Malaysia.

In these countries, an automated mode of voting, personal, and postal voting have been conducted by the poll body.

Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said they are expecting a higher number of overseas Filipinos for the coming days of OAV since they will be voting until next month.

Giving an update on ballot production, Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal, for his part, said they can now print one million ballots per day.

“Normally, we produce 800 to 900 ballots a day but within a 24 hour cycle Wednesday, we were able to reach the one million mark,” he said, adding that the total number of official ballots printed is 41,682,118.