election primer 02012016

8/17/2019 Election Primer 02012016

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I.

On May 9, 2016, the Philippines will conduct its National and Local Elections(Elections.!" #t sta$e a%e 1&,0&' positions, includin the hihest electi)e o**ice in

the count%y, the P%esident o* the Philippines.1

+he%e a%e -,'6',&-- %eiste%ed)ote%s 2 in the count%y, '69,1'' estalished p%ecincts, 92,09 cluste%ed p%ecincts,and '6,/&& )otin cente%s as well as 6,29/ #ccessile Pollin Places' *o% theene*it o* pe%sons with disailities and senio% citiens-. +his p%ie% ais to assiststa$eholde%s in na)iatin the %ules and %eulations that dictate the conduct o* elections on the second Monday o* May.

II. P%ecincts and Pollin Places

a. P%ecincts

#n election p%ecinct is a unit o* te%%ito%y *o% the pu%pose o* )otin.

! +he OniusElection ode o* 19& dictates that each p%ecinct, as *a% as p%acticale, not ha)eo%e than th%ee hund%ed )ote%s ('00." #cco%dinly, the cu%%ent list o* the p%o3ecto* p%ecincts, as %epo%ted y the oission, %e*lects this %e4ui%eent. 6 5uchp%ecincts a%e then st%uctu%ed into cluste%s o* p%ecincts. u%the%, #ccessile PollinPlaces (#PP" a%e c%eated to ensu%e that the su**%ae %ihts o* pe%sons withdisailities and senio% citiens a%e not unduly hape%ed.

+he oission has %econied the need to cluste% estalished p%ecincts due tothe liited nue% o* )otin and countin achines, inade4uacy7non8a)ailailityo* pulic school uildins and othe% st%uctu%es which ay e sued as )otin

cente%s, the lac$ o* 4uali*ied indi)iduals who shall se%)e as ee%s o* the1 Reynaldo Santos Jr., Over 18,000 Posts At Stake in 2016 Elections,RAPPLER, Nov. 26, 2015, available athttp://.rappler.!o"/nes#rea$/%&/10''2'(ele!t%ve(posts(2016(ele!t%ons )last v%s%ted Jan. 25, 2016*2 +o""%ss%on on Ele!t%ons, Philippine 2016 Voters Profle by Agero!p, Jan. 15, 2016, available at http://.!o"ele!.ov.ph/-rAr!h%ves/RelarEle!t%ons/2016NLE/Stat%st%!s/Ph%l%pp%ne2016otersProle/yAe3rop )last v%s%ted Jan. 25, 2016*4 +o""%ss%on on Ele!t%ons, "ata on the #otal $!%ber o& 'arangays,Establishe( ) *l!stere(+ro!pe( Precincts, egistere( Voters, Voting

*enters, Accessible Polling Places an( "etainee Voters, Nov. 16, 2015,available athttp://.!o"ele!.ov.ph/ploads/Ar!h%ves/RelarEle!t%ons/2016NLE/Resolt%ons/Re%onalS""ary.pd )last v%s%ted Jan. 25, 2016* RA 10466, Se!t%on 7 )2012*5 P ''1 8"n%#s Ele!t%on +ode, Se!t%on 17 )17'5*6 http://.!o"ele!.ov.ph/-rAr!h%ves/RelarEle!t%ons/2016NLE/Pro9e!toPre!%n!ts/P8P


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5pecial7:oa%d o* Election Inspecto%s (57:EIs,"; and the peace and o%de% situation in c%itical a%eas identi*ied y the Philippine National Police7#%edo%ces o* the Philippines (PNP7#P."/! +hus, in line with the oissionepulic #ct 10'66, c%eated asecond $ind o* p%ecinct that was o* a nonte%%ito%ial natu%e, e?clusi)ely *o% pe%sons with disailities and senio% citiens who in thei% %eist%ation %eco%dsani*est thei% intent to a)ail o* thei% %iht to a sepa%ate p%ecinct! %anted y thesaid law. +hese p%ecincts we%e assined to #ccessile Pollin Places (#PP" thata%e cu%%ently cluste%ed7 %ouped, with %eula% p%ecinct7s ha)in the least nue% o* )ote%s, in acco%dance with the p%ecedin %ule.9!

. Pollin Place

# pollin place is the uildin o% place whe%e the oa%d o* election inspecto%sconducts its p%oceedins and whe%e the )ote%s shall cast thei% )otes. 10! # pollinplace is a%$ed, on the day o* )otin and on days when the oa%d o* electioninspecto%s eet, y a sin in *%ont showin the nue% o* the p%ecinct to which itelons and the Philippine *la shall e hoisted at the p%ope% heiht. 11! 5ection1- o* the ode e?ho%ts that the pollin place ust e within the te%%ito%y o* thep%ecinct, in a cent%al location alon a pulic %oad on the %ound *loo% o* a uildindesc%ied elow.12

@ependin on the nue% o* p%ecincts in a a%anay, the pollin place is usuallya pulic school o% any othe% pulic uildin.1' =hen a p%i)ate uildin is used, theOnius Election ode %e4ui%es that is not owned, leased, o% occupied y anycandidate o% o* any pe%son who is %elated to any candidate within the *ou%th ci)ilde%ee o* consanuinity o% a**inity, o% any o**ice% o* the o)e%nent o% leade% o* any political pa%ty, %oup o% *action, no% in any uildin o% su%%oundin p%eises

http://.!o"ele!.ov.ph/ploads/Ar!h%ves/RelarEle!t%ons/2016NLE/Resolt%ons/res10017.pd ' +o""%ss%on on Ele!t%ons, Resolt%on No. 10017, ;e!. 1, 2015,available at

http://.!o"ele!.ov.ph/ploads/Ar!h%ves/RelarEle!t%ons/2016NLE/Resolt%ons/res10017.pd )last v%s%ted Jan. 25, 2016*< %n l%ne %th Se!52)!* o P ''17 -(.10 P ''1, Se!t%on 15211 Se!t%on 15'12 Se!t%on 1514 Se!t%on 2


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unde% the actual cont%ol o* a p%i)ate entity, political pa%ty o% %eliiouso%aniation.! Pollin places ay not e located within the pe%iete% o* o% insidea ilita%y o% police cap o% %ese%)ation o% within a p%ison copound. 1-! It ust eale to accoodate *o%ty (-0" )ote%s at one tie.1

+he Onius Election ode de*ines the physical lay out o* pollin places. +op%otect the sanctity o* the allot, the ode speci*ically o%de%s that the pollinplace shall e so a%%aned that the ooths, the tale, the allot o?es and thewhole pollin place, e?cept what is ein w%itten within the ooths, shall e inplain )iew o* the oa%d o* election inspecto%s, the watche%s and othe% pe%sonswho ay e within the pollin place.!16

u%the%, the ode %e4ui%es the use o* ua%d%ails to sepa%ate the oa%d o* electioninspecto%s, the watche%s, the )otin ooths, and the waitin )ote%s. +he%e shalle a ua%d %ail etween the )otin ooths and the tale *o% the oa%d o* electioninspecto%s! and that the )otin ooths e so a%%aned that they can e

accessile only y passin th%ouh the ua%d %ail and y ente%in th%ouh itsopen side *acin the tale o* the oa%d o* election inspecto%s.! 1/ +he%e will eua%d%ails sepa%atin the watche%s and the tale *o% the oa%d o* electioninspecto%s ut to e placed at such a distance that the watche%s ay still ose%)ethe p%oceedins.1& I* possile, ua%d%ails shall also sepa%ate the tale o* oa%d o* election inspecto%s *%o the )ote%s waitin *o% thei% tu%n to cast thei% )otes, withent%ance and e?it to i)e the o%de%ly access to the tale and the ooths du%inthe )otin.!19

i. Pe%sons @isallowed in Pollin Place

+he Onius ode is st%ict aout who ay e allowed in the pollin place. Onlyee%s o* the oa%d o* election inspecto%s, the watche%s, the %ep%esentati)es o* the oission, and the )ote%s castin thei% )otes a%e pe%itted inside. +hose)ote%s waitin thei% tu%n to )ote ay e aditted into the pollin place i* thei% nue% shall not e?ceed twenty at any one tie.! #dditionally, watche%s aystay only in the space %ese%)ed *o% the.!20

+he ode is )e%y e?plicit when it states that it is illeal *o% watche%s to ente% places %ese%)ed *o% the )ote%s! and *o% the oa%d o* election inspecto%s to inleand tal$ with the )ote%s within in the pollin place.! 21

1 Se!t%on 15515 Se!t%on 15216 P ''1, Se!t%on 157)d*1 Se!t%on 157)a*1' Se!t%on 157)#*17 Se!t%on 157)!*20 Se!t%on 17221 Se!t%on 172


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:a%%ed *%o ente%in the pollin place a%e any o**ice% o% ee% o* the #%edo%ces o* the Philippines includin the Philippine onstaula%y o% the Inte%atedNational Police o% peace o**ice% o% any a%ed pe%son elonin to any e?t%a8lealpolice aency, special *o%ces, %eaction *o%ces, st%i$e *o%ces, hoe de*ense units,a%anay tanod, o% othe% siila% *o%ces o% pa%a8ilita%y *o%ces, includin special

*o%ces, secu%ity ua%ds, special policean, and all othe% $inds o* a%ed o% una%ed e?t%a8leal police o**ice%s.!22 +hey a%e only allowed to ente% i* he will e)otin in that pollin place howe)e% he ust iediately lea)e the polinplace.!2'

:a%anay o**icials a%e also not allowed to ente% and stay inside any pollin place,e?cept aain to )ote o% i* he is actin as a watche%, o% a ee% o* the oa%d o* election inspecto%s, in which case, he shall lea)e the pollin place iediatelya*te% )otin.! 2-

c. Aotin :ooths

+he nue% o* )otin ooths in the pollin place ust e enouh *o% *o% e)e%ytwenty )ote%s %eiste%ed in the p%ecinct.!2 +hey a%e desined to p%otect thesec%ecy o* the allots such that each ooth shall e open on the side *%ontin thetale *o% the oa%d o* election inspecto%s and its th%ee sides shall e closed withwalls at least se)enty centiete%s wide and two ete%s hih. +he uppe% pa%t shalle co)e%ed, i* necessa%yB!26 +he ooths a%e andated to help the )ote%s *ill outthei% allots, thus a shel* and clea% lihtin a%e %e4ui%ed.

+he oission is %e4ui%ed to $eep the electo%ate in*o%ed as to who a%e%unnin as candidates *o% the positions open *o% election. :e*o%e the day o* the

election and du%in the enti%e )otin pe%iod, a list o* all the candidates ust e$ept posted inside each )otin ooth and in the pollin place. 2/

III. >ihts and @uties o* 5ta$eholde%s

a. andidates, 5uppo%te%s, and Political Pa%ties

Cnde% the Onius Election ode, two *o%s o* p%ohiited cont%iutions. i%st,unde% 5ection &9, candidates, political pa%ties, o%aniations, o% any pe%son, aynot i)e o% accept, *%ee o* cha%e, t%anspo%tation, *ood o% d%in$s, o% thins o* )alue du%in the *i)e hou%s e*o%e and a*te% a pulic eetin, on the dayp%ecedin the election, and on the day o* the electionD o% to i)e o% cont%iute,di%ectly o% indi%ectly, oney o% thins o* )alue *o% such pu%pose.! +his p%ohiition

22 Se!t%on 17224 Se!t%on 1722 P ''1, Se!t%on 17225 Se!t%on 15'26 Se!t%on 15'2 Se!t%on 15'


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is speci*ically di%ected aainst the cont%iution o* thins o* )alue *o% the ene*it o* the capain, pulic eetins %elated to it, o% *o% the ease o* p%ocesses onElection @ay.

5ection 10-, p%ohiits cont%iutions and donations o%e ene%ally. #s such, no

candidate, his o% he% spouse o% any %elati)e within the second ci)il de%ee o* consanuinity o% a**inity, o% his capain anae%, aent o% %ep%esentati)e,!includin the t%easu%e%s, aents o% %ep%esentati)es o* any political pa%ty,! aynot unde%ta$e o% cont%iute to the const%uction o% %epai% o* %oads, %ides, schooluses, pue%icultu%e cente%s, edical clinics and hospitals, chu%ches o% chapelsceent pa)eents, o% any st%uctu%e *o% pulic use o% *o% the use o* any %eliiouso% ci)ic o%aniation! no% ay they donate, cont%iute o% i*t to theseo%aniations and p%o3ects. owe)e%, as an e?ception, these pe%sons ay a$ethe sae donations, cont%iutions o% i*ts, i* they a%e custoa%y and no%al dueso% o**e%ins, such as %eliious stipends, tithes o% collections on 5undays o% othe% desinated collection days, as well as pe%iodic payents *o% leitiate

schola%ships estalished and school cont%iutions haitually ade e*o%e thep%ohiited pe%iod...!

. Aote%si. ow to Aote

+he )ote%s shall )ote in the o%de% that they a%%i)e in the pollin place. +hey ay*%eely ente% the pollin place i* the%e a%e no )ote%s waitin inside. I* the%e a%e)ote%s waitin inside, the newly a%%i)ed )ote%s ust *all in line in the o%de% o* thei% a%%i)al. +hey a%e not allowed to c%owd a%ound the tale o* the oa%d o* electioninspecto%s.2& # )ote% ay not spea$ with anyone in the pollin place othe% than to

the pe%sons necessa%y in the )otin p%ocess. e ust not coplete the allotoutside the )otin ooth. e ust not show the contents o* his allot to any othe% pe%son.29

:e*o%e a allot is i)en to the )ote%, the chai%an o* the oa%d o* inspecto%s shalldete%ine the identity o* the )ote% who shall i)e the chai%an his nae, add%essand othe% pe%sonal data. I* the%e is dout as to the identity o* the )ote%, the oa%do* election inspecto%s shall chec$ his )ote%


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:oa%d o* Election Inspecto%s i)es the )ote% a allot. '2 Only the chai%an o* the:oa%d o* Election Inspecto%s can deli)e% the o**icial allots to the )ote%. ''

+he )ote% p%oceeds to the )otin ooth to coplete his allot. e ay neithe% ente% a ooth that anothe% pe%son occupies, no% ente% with anothe% pe%son. e

ay not stay lone% than necessa%y in the )otin ooth.

=hile only one allot at a tie is i)en to a )ote%, '- e)e%y )ote% is allowed tochane his allot only once, in case he spoils the *i%st one i)en to hi. '

>ea%dless, the )ote% ay not de*ace the allot y e%asin any p%intin, ytea%in the sae, o% y a%$in it with any distinuishin a%$ to identi*y his)ote. e ay not a$e a copy o* the contents o* the allot y any eans. '6

Cnde% the Pa%ty List 5yste #ct, which de*ines how the peopleep%esentati)es in the Lowe% ouse a%e elected, e)e%y )ote% is entitled to two)otes. +he *i%st )ote is *o% the %ep%esentati)e in his leislati)e dist%ict, and the

second )ote is a )ote *o% the pa%ty, o%aniation, o% coalition he wants%ep%esented in the ouse o* >ep%esentati)esF p%o)ided, that a )ote cast *o% apa%ty, secto%al o%aniation, o% coalition not entitled to e )oted *o% shall not ecountedB!'/

#*te% the )ote% has copleted his allot, he shall place his thu a%$ andsinatu%e on the allotted spaces in the )otin %eco%d. Indelile in$, which thechai%an shall apply, will identi*y the )ote% as ha)in )oted. +he )ote% shallpe%sonally d%op the allot into the allot o?. '& +he allot o? will e o* such siethat allows the inse%tion o* the o**icial allots without it ein *olded. It will e*ound in each p%ecinct with sa*ety *eatu%es that the oission ay p%esc%ie.'9

#*te% they ha)e d%opped thei% allots, the )ote%s ust iediately depa%t.-0

ii. P=@75

Cnde% at least two laws, accoodations we%e ade to ensu%e that the %ihts o* pe%sons with disailities and senio% citiens a%e %espected. +he Mana a%ta *o% @isaled Pe%sons p%o)ides the initial *%aewo%$ *o% the syste o* )otin *o% disaled pe%sons. +his has een st%enthened in ># 10'66 which e?ho%ted theoission to c%eate #ccessile Pollin Places *o% the ene*it o* pe%sons with

42 RA '46, as a"ended Se!t%on 1

44 P ''1, Se!t%on 174 Se!t%on 1745 RA '46, as a"ended Se!t%on 1468"n%#s, Se!t%on 1754 RA 71, Partly L%st Syste", Se!t%on 104' RA '46, as a"ended Se!t%on 147 Se!t%on 140 P ''1, Se!t%on 174


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disailities and senio% citiens. u%the%, the latte% law %e4ui%es that theoission shall ensu%e %easonale accoodation to pe%sons with disailitiesand senio% citiens to enale the to accoplish the allots y thesel)es.-1!

+o accoplish the said allots, pe%sons with disailities o% senio% citiens who a%e

illite%ate o% who a%e physically unale to coplete thei% own allots ay eassisted in the p%epa%ation o* his o% he% allot y a %elati)e y consanuinity o% a**inity within the *ou%th ci)il de%ee, o% i* he o% she has none, y any pe%son o* his o% he% con*idence who elons to the sae household, o% y any ee% o* the :oa%d o* Election Inspecto%s;.-2! Cnde% the sae p%o)ision, pe%sonalassistants, ca%ei)e%s, nu%ses, o% pe%sons who usually assist they pe%son withdisailities o% senio% citiens a%e deeed to e ee%s o* the sae household.

+he assisto% ust ind hisel* in a *o%al docuent unde% oath to st%ictly *ill outthe allot in acco%dance with the will and inst%uctions o* the )ote%D *u%the%o%e,the assisto% ust p%oise not to %e)eal the contents o* the allot he helped

p%epa%e *o% the pe%son with disailities o% the senio% citien. +he assisto% usthelp accoplish the allot inside the )otin ooth. E?cept *o% the ee%s o* theoa%d o* election inspecto%s, no assisto% ay help *o% o%e than th%ee ties.

+o a)ail o* an assisto%, se)e%al conditions ust apply. i%st, the assisto% ust eo* )otin aeD and, second, the pe%son with disailities o% the senio% citien ustindicate in thei% %eist%ation %eco%d that he intends to do so. #s an e?ception tothe latte% %ule, i* the physical inaility to p%epa%e the allot is ani*est, o)ious,o% )isile, said )ote% shall e allowed to e assisted in accoplishin the alloty a 4uali*ied assisto%, e)en i* not stated o% indicated in the %eist%ation%eco%dB!-'

+he ao)e %ihts and oliations o* the disaled pe%sons and senio% citiens isst%ictly en*o%ced, such that any )iolation o* the p%e)ious shall constitute anelection o**ense,! unde% the Onius Election ode.--

c. =atche%s

andidates, includin independent candidates-, political pa%ties, and othe% %oups with a sta$e in the elections a%e %anted the %iht to send watche%s topollin places. +he Electo%al >e*o%s Law o* 19&/, %ants e)e%y %eiste%edpolitical pa%ty, coalition o* political pa%ties, and e)e%y candidate shall each eentitled to one watche% in e)e%y pollin placeB!-6 +his entitleent is 4uali*ied y

1 RA 10466, Se!t%on 102 RA 10466, Se!t%on 114 RA 10466, Se!t%on 11 -(.5 P ''1, Se!t%on 1'6 RA 666, Ele!toral Reor"s La o 17', Se!t%on 12


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the 4uali*ications o* a watche% and the liits to the %ihts o* sta$eholde%s toappoint a watche%.

+he appointed watche% is not 4uali*ied unless (1" he is a 4uali*ied )ote% *o% thecity o% unicipalityD! (2" he is o* ood %eputationD! ('" he has not een con)icted

y *inal 3udent o* any election o**ense, o% any othe% c%ieD! (-" he ust $nowhow to %ead and w%ite, ilipino,; Enlish, 5panish;, o% any o* the p%e)ailin localdialectsD! and, (-" he is not %elated within the *ou%th ci)il de%ee o* consanuinityo% a**inity to the chai%an o% any ee% o* the oa%d o* election inspecto%s inthe pollin place whe%e he see$s appointent as a watche%.!-/

Only those autho%ied to appoint a watche% a%e entitled to one watche% at a tieto stay inside the pollin place. andidates %unnin to e ee%s o* the5anunian Panlalawian, 5anunian Panlunsod o% 5anunian :ayan o% *o% city o% unicipal councilo%s and who elon to the sae slate o% tic$et, shallas a %oup only e entitled to one watche%.-& +he autho%ity to appoint a watche% is

i)en y each candidate, political pa%ty o% coalition o* political pa%ties to a%ep%esentati)e in e)e%y p%o)ince, hihly u%anied city o% dist%ict in theMet%opolitan Manila a%ea.!-9 # list o* these %ep%esentati)es is to e i)en to thep%o)incial election supe%)iso% o% the city election %eist%a%.! +he p%o)incialelection supe%)iso%s shall p%o)ide to unicipal election %eist%a%s and election%eist%a%s o* coponent cities a copy o* the sae list. In Met%o Manila, the list o* %ep%esentati)es autho%ied to appoint watche%s is *iled with the oission. +heoission shall *u%nish the list to %especti)e city and unicipal election%eist%a%s.!0

+he %ulin coalition, %ep%esented y the political pa%ty o* the incuent elected

dist%ict %ep%esentati)e! and the othe% doinant opposition coalition, %ep%esentedy the political pa%ty which pe%*o%ed est o% which polled at least ten pe%cent(10G" o* the )otes in the last national election,! a%e entitled to desinate the twop%incipal watche%s o* e)e%y pollin place. +hese p%incipal watche%s sit asose%)e%s in the p%oceedins o* the oa%d.1

+he acc%edited citien a% o* the oission is entitled to appoint a watche% ine)e%y pollin place.! i)il, %eliious, p%o*essional, usiness, se%)ice, youth, andsiila% o%aniations autho%ied y the oission, a%e collecti)ely entitled toappoint one watche% *o% e)e%y pollin place. 2

+he chai%an o* the :oa%d o* Election Inspecto%s shall e p%esented with theappointent o* the watche% when he ente%s the pollin place. +he said

P ''1, Se!t%on 1'' RA 666, Se!t%on 127 P ''1, Se!t%on 1'50 -(.51 RA 666, Se!t%on 1252 P ''1, Se!t%on 1'0


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appointent shall ha)e the pe%sonal sinatu%e o% the *acsiile sinatu%e! o* thecandidate o% the duly autho%ied %ep%esentati)es o* the political pa%ty o% coalitiono* political pa%ties o% o%aniations; who appointed hi. +he nae o* the watche% shall e %eco%ded in the inutes with a notation unde% his sinatu%e that he isnot dis4uali*ied! unde% the law.'

+he duly appointed watche%, p%o)ided it is done y those autho%ied in a sinedappointent, a%e entitled to %econition y the :oa%d o* Election Inspecto%s, aswell as to the %ihts and oliations de*ined y the law. P%ia%ily, thei% %iht andduty is to witness and in*o% thesel)es o* the p%oceedins o* the :oa%d o* Election Inspecto%s, to ta$e notes, and e)en photo%aphs o* the no%al cou%se o* e)ents and o* incidents that ay coe up. =atche%s ay otain, without p%otest*%o the :oa%d unde% pain o* penalty unde% the Onius Election ode, ace%ti*icate o* the nue% o* )otes in wo%ds and *iu%es cast *o% each candidate,duly sined and thua%$ed y the chai%an and all the ee%s.!- +heyay %ead the allots that a%e %ead out loud y the chai%an, as well as the

election %etu%ns when they a%e p%oduced and sined y the :oa%d. owe)e%, theyay not touch the said election %etu%ns.

+hey ha)e a %iht to p%otest and to otain a ce%ti*ication o* the *act o* p%otestaainst any i%%eula%ity o% )iolation law which they elie)e ay ha)e eencoitted y the oa%d o* election inspecto%s o% y any o* its ee%s o% y anype%sonsB!6 +he watche%s ha)e a %iht to ha)e and to stay in a place %ese%)ed*o% the inside the pollin place *%o which they ha)e *ull and unipededaccess to the p%oceedins.!/ Ne)e%theless, the watche%s ay not spea$ aonthesel)es, to the ee%s o* the oa%d o* election inspecto%s, and to the )ote%sin a anne% that is dis%upti)e to the election p%oceedins.&

In addition, the p%incipal watche%s %ep%esentin the %ulin coalition and thedoinant opposition shall place thei% sinatu%e and thua%$s in the election%etu%ns p%oduced y the p%ecinct they a%e watchin. I* oth o% eithe% o* the isnot a)ailale, unwillin o% should they %e*use to do so, any watche% p%esentp%e*e%aly with political a**iliation o% alinent copatile with that o* the asento% unwillin watche%, ay e %e4ui%ed y oa%d o* election inspecto%s to do so.! 9

d. Mee%s o* itien H%oups o% O%aniations desinated y theoission

54 P ''1, Se!t%on 175 P ''1, Se!t%on 1755 -(.56 -(.5 RA 666, Se!t%on 125' P ''1, Se!t%on 1757 RA 666, Se!t%on 12


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5ection 2($" o* the Onius Election ode i)es the oission on Election to%iht to enlist non8pa%tisan %oups o% o%aniations o* citiens *%o )a%ioussecto%s $nown *o% thei% p%oity, ipa%tiality and inte%ity with the ee%s andcapaility to unde%ta$e a coo%dinated ope%ation and acti)ity to assist in theipleentation! o* the laws, %ules, and %eulations o)e%nin the conduct o*

elections.

+he initial duty o* these %oups is to e?ho%t all %eiste%ed )ote%s in thei% %especti)e a%eas to o to thei% pollin places and cast thei% )otes. +hey ha)e the%esponsiility to %epo%t to the peace autho%ities and othe% app%op%iate aenciesall instances o* te%%o%is, intiidation o* )ote%s and othe% siila% attepts to*%ust%ate the *%ee and o%de%ly castin o* )otes.! u%the%, they ust pe%*o% othe% duties assined to the y the oission.

+hese o%aniations also ha)e the %iht to noinate one watche% *o% acc%editation in each pollin place and each place o* can)ass who shall ha)e the

sae duties, *unctions and %ihts as othe% watche%s o* political pa%ties andcandidates.! +hei% acc%edited watche% is the sole ee% allowed to ente% anypollin place. +he ee%s o* these %oups shall not e allowed to o insidesuch pollin place, e?cept to )ote. +hey a%e only allowed to stay in an a%ea atleast *i*ty ete%s away *%o the pollin place.!

e. Pollste%s

E?it polls a%e su%)eys conducted on the day o* the election. +hey ay e ta$enonly unde% ce%tain conditions. i%st, pollste%s ay not adiniste% the said su%)eyswithin *i*ty (0" ete%s *%o the pollin place, whe%e)e% it ay e conductedD

second, pollste%s ust wea% distincti)e clothinD thi%d, pollste%s ust in*o%)ote%s that they ay %e*use to pa%ticipateD and, lastly, the %esult o* the e?it pollsay e announced a*te% the closin o* the polls on election day, and ust clea%lyidenti*y the total nue% o* %espondents, and the places whe%e they we%e ta$en.5aid announceent shall state that the sae is uno**icial and does not %ep%esenta t%end.!60

IA. Issues that ay a%ise and possile %eedies

a. @istu%ance o* the Peace

=hile peace o**ice%s a%e a%%ed *%o ente%in the pollin place, in the e)ent thatthe%e is an actual distu%ance o* the peace, a policean o% peace o**ice% shall eallowed to ente% o% stay inside the pollin place. +hey shall e called upon thea3o%ity )ote o* the oa%d o* election inspecto%s. +he call ust e in w%itin andente%ed in the inutes, *o% the detail o* a policean o% any peace o**ice% *o% thei% p%otection o% *o% the p%otection o* the election docuents and pa%aphe%naliaB!=hen they a%e so called, the said policean o% peace o**ice% shall stay outside

60 =a%r Ele!t%on A!t, Se!t%on 5.5


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o* two (2" conditions ust e estalished, naelyF (a" no )otin has ta$en placein the p%ecincts conce%ned on the date *i?ed y law o%, e)en i* the%e was )otin,the election ne)e%theless %esulted in a *ailu%e to electD (" the )otes cast woulda**ect the %esult o* the election.!

c. Postponeent o* Election

+he case o* Datu Kida vs. Senate of te Pili!!ines66 discusses 5ection o* theOnius Election ode on the Postponeent o* Elections. +he ou%t in thatcase decla%ed that

# close %eadin o* 5ection o* :P &&1 %e)eals that it is eant toadd%ess instances whe%e elections ha)e al%eady een scheduled tota$e place ut ha)e to e postponed ecause o* (a" )iolence, ("te%%o%is, (c" loss o% dest%uction o* election pa%aphe%nalia o%

%eco%ds, (d" *o%ce a3eu%e, and (e" othe% analoous causes o* sucha natu%e that the holdin o* a *%ee, o%de%ly and honest electionshould ecoe ipossile in any political sudi)ision. Cnde% thep%inciple o* e3usde ene%is, the te% analoous causes will e%est%icted to those un*o%eseen o% une?pected e)ents that p%e)entthe holdin o* the scheduled elections. +hese analoous causes a%e*u%the% de*ined y the ph%ase o* such natu%e that the holdin o* a*%ee, o%de%ly and honest election should ecoe ipossile.

In this case, the oelec ay decla%e initiate the notice and hea%in o* the caseto decla%e postponeent o* election moto !ro!rio o% y )e%i*ied petition. 5iila% to

the case o* the decla%ation o* *ailu%e o* elections, the )ote o* the a3o%ity o* theoelec en anc is necessa%y.

d. 5yste :%ea$down

+he new laws with %ea%d to the #utoated Election 5ystes ha)e add%essedthe possiility o* syste %ea$downs. 5ection 9 o* ># &-'6 identi*ies whensystes %ea$down happens in the countin cente% as when the achine *ailsto %ead the allots o% *ails to sto%e7sa)e %esults o% *ails to p%int the %esults a*te% ithas %ead the allotsD o% when the copute% *ails to consolidate election%esults7%epo%ts o% *ails to p%int election %esults7%epo%ts a*te% consolidation.!

In case o* such systes %ea$down o* all the achines in the countin cente%,a)ailale achines *%o anothe% city7unicipality shall e t%ans*e%%ed. +he saidt%ans*e% will e done in the p%esence o* %ep%esentati)es o* political pa%ties andcitiens< a% o* the oission, a*te% notice y the said oission.

66 3R 17621 8!to#er 1', 2011


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election primer 02012016

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