The Commission on Election (Comelec) on Wednesday, Oct. 11, announced that overseas voter registration in Israel has been suspended indefinitely due to the escalating war between Israeli forces and the Palestine military group.

"The Commission on Elections, in its en banc session on 11 October 2023, approved the indefinite suspension of overseas voter registration in Israel following the declaration of war in the country," Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said in a press statement.

Laudiangco said Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia wanted to "put a premium on the protection and safety of our kababayans in Israel."

"The Comelec, however, has not yet discussed any extension of the overseas voter registration period in light of the indefinite suspension," he noted.

Laudiangco said the overseas voter registration in connection with the May 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE) in other countries would end on Sept. 30, 2024.

He said Filipino citizens, ages 18 years old and above, who are either abroad or will be abroad are qualified to register as overseas voters.

"Application for registration may be submitted at any Post abroad, or at designated registration centers outside the Post, or at the designated registration centers in the Philippines," the Comlec spox said.