Around 1.4 million overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong started casting their votes on Saturday, April 9 as the Philippines heads into a presidential election. It is believed that this large amount of absentee voters can make or break the presidential race.

The Filipino consulate in Hong Kong predicted a 50 percent voter turnout, which is higher than the global average turnout rate of 26 percent. "I believe that the nearly 1.5 million registered voters overseas can actually make or break a Presidential candidate," Eman Villanueva said, a Filipino migrant rights activist.

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This unusually high number of absentee voters are believed to have the power to influence the polls this coming May 9. Hong Kong's community center was filled with different Filipino workers who are mostly domestic helpers.

These often abused underclass in Hong Kong are hoping that the coming elections will end their struggle overseas. A majority of them decided to leave the Philippines and work in Hong Kong because of the lack of opportunities. Hong Kong Free Press noted that one Filipina lady has a nursing degree but ended up working as a helper since it pays more.

Filipinos working overseas mostly in Asia, North America, and the Middle East send more than $25 billion remittances back to the Philippines. The remittances have kept the Philippine economy on the steady growth of 6.2 percent.

There are currently five candidates running for President in the Philippines. The elections will end on May 9. Who do you think will win? Let us know by leaving your comments below.

TagsHong Kong, Hong Kong domestic workers, domestic workers, Philippine Elections 2016, Philippine-Hong Kong Relations, Overseas Filipino Workers, Absentee voters