Republic Act No. 8189
PROVIDING FOR A GENERAL REGISTRATION OF VOTERS, ADOPTING A SYSTEM OF CONTINUING REGISTRATION, PRESCRIBING THE PROCEDURES THEREOF AND AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS THEREFOR
Promulgated: 1 June 1996
Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as "The Voter's Registration Act of 1996."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to systematize the present method of registration in order to establish a clean, complete, permanent and updated list of voters.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
a. Registration refers to the act of accomplishing and filing of a sworn application for registration by a qualified voter before the election officer of the city or municipality wherein he resides and including the same in the book of registered voters upon approval by the Election Registration Board;
b. Registration Record refers to an application for registration duly approved by the Election Registration Board;
c. Book of Voters refers to the compilation of all registration records in a precinct;
d. List of Voters refers to an enumeration of names of registered voters in a precinct duly certified by the Election Registration Board for use in the election;
e. Illiterate or Disabled person refers to one who cannot by himself prepare an application for registration because of his physical disability to read and write;
f. Commission refers to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC);
g. Election Registration Board refers to the body constituted herein to act on all applications for registration;
h. Voter's Identification Number (VIN) refers to the number assigned by the Commission on Elections to a registered voter that shall consist of three (3) parts:1. The current address (city/municipality and province);
2. the current precinct assignment of the voter; and
3. the permanent birth and name code unique to every voter;
i. Political Parties refer to local, regional or national political parties existing and duly registered and accredited by the Commission;
j. Precinct refers to the basic unit of territory established by the Commission for the purpose of voting;
k. Precinct Maps refers to a sketch or drawing of a geographical area stated in terms of streets or street blocks or sitios the residents of which would belong to a particular precinct;
l. Polling place refers to the place where the Board of Election Inspectors conducts its proceeding and where the voters cast their votes;
m. Voting center refers to the building or place where the polling place is located;
n. Election Officer refers to the highest official or authorized representative of the Commission in a city or municipality; and
o. Board of Election Inspectors refers to the body which conducts the election in the polling place of the precinct usually composed of three (3) public school teachers appointed by the Commission.
Sec. 4. Permanent List of Voters. - There shall be a permanent list of voters per precinct in each city of municipality consisting of all registered voters residing within the territorial jurisdiction of every precinct indicate by the precinct maps.
