COMELEC resumes voter registration on Monday

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) resumes voter registration on Monday the continuing registration of voters for the 2019 synchronized local and national elections.

COMELEC rejects Jalosjos vote bid

Romeo "Nonong" Jalosjos, Sr.

By JULIE S. ALIPALA
Inquirer Mindanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has rejected a bid by Romeo Jalosjos, Sr., a convicted child rapist released from prison in 2009 after serving a sentence shortened by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to register as a voter here.

Resolution No. 9509 - Suspending the Registration of Voters from Oct 1 to Oct 5, 2012

Republic of the Philippines

COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS

Manila

RESOLUTION No. 9509

In the Matter of Suspending the Registration of Voters from October 1 to October 5, 2012 in Connection with the Filing of Certificates of Candidacy for all Elective Positions for the May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections

[Promulgated: July 23, 2012]

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act No. 9369, and other election laws, the Commission on Elections (Commission) issued Resolution No. 9385 dated April 3, 2012, entitled "Calendar of Activities and Period of Certain Prohibited Acts in Connection with the May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections";

COMELEC suspends voter registration and validation from June 25 to July 31, 2012

Republic of the Philippines

COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS

Manila

SUSPENSION OF THE SYSTEM OF CONTINUING REGISTRATION OF VOTERS AND VALIDATION OF REGISTRATION RECORDS IN SUCH AREAS AS MAY BE DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x	BRILLANTES, Sixto S., Jr. SARMIENTO, Rene V. TAGLE, Lucenito N. VELASCO, Armando C. YUSOPH, Elias R. LIM, Christian Robert S.	Chairman Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner
	Promulgated:  June 8, 2012

Resolution No. 9427 - Registration of Members of the Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples

Resolution No. 9427

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE REGISTRATION OF MEMBERS OF INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES (ICCs)/INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (IPs)

Promulgation: 17 May 2012

WHEREAS, Article V, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution provides that Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein they propose to vote for at least six months immediately preceding the election.  No literacy, property or other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage;

WHEREAS, Article II, Section 22 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the framework of national unity and development;

WHEREAS, consistent with its commitment in the 1987 Constitution, the Indigenous People's Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other international human rights instruments to which it is a Party, the State, with due recognition of their distinct characteristics and identity, accord to the members of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs)/Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) the rights, protections and privileges enjoyed by the rest of the citizens;

WHEREAS, the State recognizes and respects the indigenous political structures and commits itself to enforce and guarantee the realization of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the IPs/ICCs, including the right of suffrage, taking into consideration their customs, traditions, values, beliefs, interests and institutions;

WHEREAS, the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP) has identified the IPs/ICCs as one of the sectors most vulnerable to disenfranchisement;

WHEREAS, upon the request of civil society organizations (CSOs), the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) convened the Inter-Agency, NGO and PO Network on Empowering the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the Electoral Processes on 11 January 2012 to help the Commission formulate policies to afford IPs' greater access to the electoral processes, including the registration process;

WHEREAS, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), as the primary government agency responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies, plans and programs to recognize, protect and promote the rights of ICCs/IPs, committed to support COMELEC's initiative to increase the accessibility of the electoral processes, as a means of empowering the IPs;

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 9149, as amended by Resolution No. 9168, provides the basic procedures for the system of continuing registration for Non-ARMM areas and fixes the date of application for registration from 3 May 2011 to 31 October 2012;

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act No. 8189 and other related election laws, the Commission on Elections has RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to promulgate the following guidelines in the registration of qualified registrants who are members of the Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) or Indigenous Peoples (IPs).

Section 1. Coverage. - These Guidelines shall govern the applications for registration, transfer, transfer with reactivation, reactivation, correction/change of entries and validation of registration records of all qualified voters, who are members of Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) or Indigenous Peoples (IPs) as defined in Section 2 hereof.

Section 2. Definition of Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) or Indigenous Peoples (IPs). - Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) or Indigenous Peoples (IPs) shall refer to a group of people or homogenous societies identified by self-ascription and ascription by others, who have continuously lived as organized community on communally bounded and defined territory, and who have, under claims of ownership since time immemorial, occupied, possessed and utilized such territories, sharing common bonds of language, customs, traditions and other distinctive cultural traits, or who have, through resistance to political, social and cultural inroads of colonization, non-indigenous religions and cultures, became historically differentiated from the majority of Filipinos.

ICCs/IPs shall likewise include peoples who are regarded as indigenous on account of their descent from the populations which inhabited the country, at the time of conquest or colonization, or at the time of inroads of non-indigenous religions and cultures, or the establishment of present state boundaries, who retain some or all of their own social, economic, cultural and political institutions, but who may have been displaced from their traditional domains or who may have resettled outside their ancestral domains.

Section 3. Procedure for Registration; Proof of Identity. - The applicant shall personally appear before the Election Officer (EO), state his name and exact address, specifying the house number, name of the street, area, district, purok or sitio, and barangay where he resides, or a brief description of his residence.

The applicant shall present any of the following identification documents that bears his photograph and signature:

1. Current employee's identification card (ID), with the signature of the employer or authorized representative;

2. Postal ID;

3. Student's ID or library card, signed by the school authority;

4. Senior Citizen's ID; 

5. Driver's license;

6. NBI/PNP clearance;

7. Passport;

8. SSS/GSIS ID;

9. Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) ID;

10. License issued by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC);

11. Certificate of Confirmation issued by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP); and

12. Any other valid ID.

Community Tax Certificates (cedula) or certifications/identification cards issued by barangay officials are not identification documents.

Section 4. Proof of identity other than by identification card. - If the registrant has no valid identification card, he may be identified under oath before the EO using the Affidavit of Identification by any registered voter of the precinct or any of his relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.  No registered voter or relative shall be allowed to identify applicants more than three (3) times.

The form shall, as much as practicable, be translated into the local languages and/or dialects commonly used in the area.

Section 5. Procedures if registrant has no identification document or is not properly identified. - If, at the time of registration, the applicant has no valid identification card as enumerated in Section 3, or is not identified pursuant to Section 4 hereof, he will not be issued application form or his pre-accomplished application form shall not be accepted.

Section 6. Filling-up the Registration Forms. - The registrant belonging to the IP community shall fill-up the pertinent Supplementary Data in Annex of the Registration Form.

If the registrant is a person with disability (PWD) at the same time, such fact shall likewise be indicated in the Supplementary Data for PWDs in Annex of the Registration Form as provided in COMELEC Resolution No. 9220.

Section 7. Assistance in the accomplishment of application form. - An applicant for registration who is a member of an ICC or IP, who cannot by himself accomplish an application for registration, shall be assisted by the EO in the preparation of his application form, or by any member of an accredited Citizen's arm, or a relative within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, or by any person of his confidence who belongs to the same household.

The assistor shall accomplish three (3) copies of the Certification/Attestation (Annex of COMELEC Resolution No. 9149) and in no case assist more than three (3) times, except the EO.  All assistors must be of voting age.

The commission shall identify and tap the accredited Citizen's arm groups to implement the provisions of these Guidelines, and shall provide for sensitization trainings to familiarize them with the application form and help prepare them for assistorial duties.

Section 8. Updating of Records of IPs. - Members of the indigenous communities who have previously registered but have not indicated the name of the IP community to which he belongs shall be allowed to update his registration records, and to indicate his tribe or community using the Supplementary Data Form for IPs found in Annex of the Registration Form.  If the applicant is also a PWD, he shall likewise fill-up the Supplementary Data Form for PWDs found in the Annex  of the Registration Form.

Section 9. Information. - All EOs are enjoined to post notice in their offices, and in public places where satellite registrations are held, instructing IPs to fill-up the Supplementary Data Form for IPs and the manner of filling-up the same.

Section 10. Update on the Software. - The information and Technology Department (ITD) shall endeavor to update the existing software application to ensure that date on IPs can be recorded, generated and analyzed.  The ITD shall coordinate with the EOs concerning the proper encoding of the data.

Section 11. Generation of Data. - The EO shall generate data on registered IPs for the sole purpose of determining policy directions for more inclusive and accessible electoral processes for the sector.  The said data shall be submitted to the ITD every three months from the start of the registration period.  The ITD shall immediately consolidate the data on the national level and submit the same to the Election Records and Statistics Division (ERSD).  The ERSD shall generate statistics on the demographics and other pertinent information involving the IPs throughout the country.  The statistics generated shall be made accessible to concerned government offices, accredited citizen's arms and other organizations that promote the rights of the IPs, subject to specific guidelines to protect the privacy of the inviduals concerned.

Section 12. Effectivity. - This Resolution shall take effect immediately after its publication in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

Section 13. Dissemination. - The Education and Information Department shall cause the publication of this Resolution in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation, give the same the widest dissemination possible and furnish copies thereof to the Regional Directors, Provincial Election Supervisors and EOs.

Section 14. Implementation. - The Office of the Executive Director is directed to cause the effective implementation of this Resolution.  For the May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections, COMELEC shall pilot this policy/resolution in at least sixteen (16) pilot areas with at least one (1) pilot area in every Region where there are IPs.  The pilot areas shall be chosen in coordination and consultation with the NCIP and the Inter-Agency, NGO and PO Network on Empowering the IPs in the Electoral Processes.

SO ORDERED.

COMELEC heeds calls for ARMM re-registration

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Friday gave assurance that it would conduct general registrations in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Earlier, the COMELEC denied requests from the Executive and Legislative Departments to conduct a new voters' registration in the region citing time constraints in the bidding of additional voter registration machines (VRMs) that will be needed for the process and the lack of funds.

Resolution No. 9475 - ARMM Voter Registration [2]

Sec. 4. Duties and Functions of the Resident EO, AEO and VRM Operator. - The following are the duties and functions of the EO, AEO and VRM Operator:

A. Resident Election Officer:

1. Entertains applications for registration of Barangay where the OEO is located and transfer of registration records from non-ARMM areas;
2. Exercises over-all administrative supervision of the RCs within his jurisdiction; and
3. Provides logistical assistance to the AEOs and VRM Operators.
4. Performs such other functions provided under these Rules or as may be directed by the Commission thru the CIC.

B. Augmentation Election Officer:

1. Performs the duties and functions of the EO as herein provided;
2. Administers oaths;
3. Addresses concerns/issues in his place of assignment and reports all incidents and problems encountered during the registration to the EO or the monitoring team;
4. Submits to the EO the compiled accomplished application forms and back-up files; and
5. Performs such other registration related functions as may be directed by the Commission or the CIC or the Monitoring Team Leader.

C. VRM Operator:

1. Performs the duties and functions as herein provided; and
2. Makes daily back-up and compile all the accomplished applications for registration.

Sec. 5. Date, time and venue of filing, hearing and approval/disapproval of application for registration and transfer of registration record. - Application for registration shall be personally filed at the OEO or in the designated RC in the city/municipality, from 8:00 o'clock a.m. to 5:00 o'clock p.m., and heard by the Election Registration Board (ERB) in accordance with the following schedule:

Application for transfer of registraton record from non-ARMM to any city/ municipality of ARMM shall be personally filed at the OEO only.  No application for transfer of registration record from non-ARMM shall be entertained by the AEO/interviewer at the RC.  Should an applicant for transfer appear before the AEO/interviewer, he shall be advised to proceed to the OEO to file said application.

In no case shall registration be conducted without the use of VRM in the event the VRM malfunctions or any of the peripherals becomes defective, registration shall be suspended until such time that the same is repaired or replaced.

Sec. 6. Persons allowed inside the RC. - Only the following persons shall be allowed inside the polling place:

a) EO/AEO and VRM Operators;

b) Applicants; and

c) Other persons who may be specifically authorized by the Commission.

Sec. 7. Persons not allowed to enter the RC. - Unless specifically authorized by the Commission, it is unlawful for the following to enter any RC or stay within a radius of ten (10) meters, thereof:

a) Any officer or member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or the Philippine National Police (PNP); 

b) Any peace officer or any armed person belonging to any extra-legal police agency, special forces, reaction forces, strike forces, Civilian Armed Force Geographical Units (CAFGU), barangay tanods or other similar forces or para-military forces, including special forces, security guards, special policemen;

c) All other kinds of armed or unarmed extra-legal police forces; and

d) Any barangay official, whether elected or appointed.

However, the EO/AEO may, if it deems necessary, order the detail of a policeman or any peace officer for his protection or for the protection of the registration documents and paraphernalia.  Said policeman or peace officer shall stay outside the RC near enough to be easily called by the EO/AEO at anytime.  In no case shall the said policeman or peace officer hold any conversation with any applicant or disturb or prevent or in any manner obstruct the free access of the applicants to the RC.

Sec. 8. Who may register. - Any Filipino citizen residing in the cities/municipalities of ARMM may register as a voter, provided that he/she is:

a)  At least eighteen (18) years of age on or before May 13, 2013 Elections;

b)  A resident of the Philippines for at least one (1) year and in the place wherein he proposes to vote, for at least six (6) months immediately preceding the May 13, 2013 Elections; and

c)  Not otherwise disqualified by law.

Sec. 9. Who are disqualified to register. - The following are disqualified from registering as a voter:

1. Any person who has been sentenced by final judgment to suffer imprisonment for not less than one (1) year, such disability not having been removed by plenary pardon or amnesty;
2. Any person who has been adjudged by final judgment by a competent court or tribunal of having committed any crime involving disloyalty to the duly-constituted government, such as, rebellion, insurrection, violation of the firearms laws, or any crime against national security, unless restored to his full civil and political rights in accordance with law; and
3. Insane or incompetent person as declared by competent authority, unless subsequently declared by proper authority that such person is no longer insane or incompetent.

Any person disqualified to register under paragraphs (1) and (2) above shall automatically reacquire the right to vote upon expiration of five (5) years after service of sentence.

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ARMM Voters Registration to Resume March 5

The system of continuing registration of voters and validation of registration records in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will commence on March 5, 2012 and will end on October 31, 2012, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced Thursday.

The COMELEC en banc, in Resolution No. 9338 promulgated January 25, 2012, ordered the resumption of voters’ registration in the ARMM in order to “give the Commission sufficient time for the conduct of pre-election activities and other preparations in connection with the May 13, 2013 elections.”

To recall, the COMELEC, September last year, deferred the voters list up in the Region which was originally slated to start on October 1, 2011 to October 31, 2012, “due to the pendency of the case questioning the legality of Republic Act 10153 on the synchronization of the ARMM elections with the May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections and in anticipation of the conduct of the ARMM elections at a later date.”

The Supreme Court has ruled on the legality of the synchronization of the ARMM elections with that of the May 13, 2013 elections, thus upholding the constitutionality of Republic Act 10153 and an Officer-in-Charge has already been designated in the Region.

Resolution No. 9279 - Reception of Multi-Type Voter Applications

Resolution No. 9279

RECEPTION OF MULTI-TYPE OF APPLICATIONS SUCH AS:  

(1) TRANSFER WITH REACTIVATION AND CORRECTION OF ENTRIES; 

(2) REACTIVATION WITH CORRECTION OF ENTRIES; AND (3) TRANSFER WITH CORRECTION OF ENTRIES, IN CONNECTION WITH THE RESUMPTION OF THE SYSTEM OF CONTINUING REGISTRATION OF VOTERS IN THE NON-ARMM AREAS

WHEREAS, in Resolution No. 9149 dated February 22, 2011, the Commission on Elections promulgated Rules and Regulations for the Resumption of the System of Continuing Registration of Voters and Validation of Registration in the Non-ARMM Areas;

WHEREAS, said Resolution covers the reception of applications for registration, transfer from another district/city and municipality, transfer within the same city/municipality, reactivation, reactivation with transfer, reinstatement in the list of voters, inclusion of registration record in the Book of Voters, correction of entries and validation;

WHEREAS, in the first quarter of registration period it was observed that various applicants filed more than one or multi-type of applications with the Office of the Election Officers such as (1) transfer with reactivation and correction of entries, (2) reactivation with correction of entries, (3) and transfer with correction of entries.  The said nature of applications is not covered in the existing rules and regulations and current Voter Registration System (VRS) installed in the voter Registration Machines (VRMs);

WHEREAS, in view of the absence of the rules and regulations and the applicable system to serve the multi-type of applications, the applicants were required to return back to the Office of the Election Officers on the next quarter of registration period to complete the other transaction, thereby causing inconvenience to the voters;

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act No. 8189 and other related laws, the Commission on Elections has RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to adopt the following guidelines, by way of supplemental to the existing rules and regulations in Resolution No. 9149, in order to accommodate multi-type of applications and to avoid inconvenience to the applicant-voters in connection with the continuing registration of voters in Non-ARMM areas:

  

A.   During the registration period, the Election Officers/Acting Election Officers/Election Assistants shall:

1. Accept and process applications for transfer with reactivation and correction of entries, reactivation with correction of entries; and transfer with correction of entries.  The procedures embodied in Resolution No. 9149 in so far as the manner of the reception, verification of the applications filed and the taking of demographics and biometrics data if necessary shall be strictly observed;
2. The voter-applicants shall accomplish the prescribed forms corresponding to the types of transaction applied for; and 
3. The total number of multi-type of applications filed in the Office of the Election Officer shall be reflected in the Quarterly Progress Report.

B.     The Information Technology Department shall facilitate the necessary changes in the program/system to incorporate the above multi-type of applications in the VRM.

Let the Election and Barangay Affairs Department and Information Technology Department implement this Resolution.

SO ORDERED.

	SIXTO S. BRILLANTES, JR. Chairman
RENE V. SARMIENTO Commissioner		LUCENITO N. TAGLE Commissioner
ARMANDO C. VELASCO Commissioner		ELIAS R. YUSOPH Commissioner
CHRISTIAN ROBERT S. LIM Commissioner		AUGUSTO C. LAGMAN Commissioner

COMELEC Chairman Brillantes promotes early voter registration at LRT

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman Sixto S. Brillantes Jr. this morning rode the Light Rail Transit (LRT) to drive home the poll body’s call for the Filipino public to register as voters.

Brillantes was at the Recto Station of the LRT Line 2 Friday, 29 July 2011, to inspect the installation of COMELEC posters and streamers at LRT stations and terminals.

Saying that he wanted to personally talk to the commuting public, the 72 year old poll chief asked representatives from the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) if he could ride the LRT to return to his office in Intramuros Manila.

LRTA officials told the COMELEC Chairman that if he wanted to ride a train to the LRT Line 1 Central Terminal in Arroceros, Manila, which is the LRT station nearest the COMELEC Office, he would have to walk for about five minutes to reach the Doroteo Jose Station of the LRT line 1.

Brillantes gamely obliged, saying that he doesn’t mind the long walk as he misses riding the train.

Upon reaching the Doroteo Jose Station, Brillantes boarded a coach meant for females, children, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens. He refused offers from people for the Chairman to take their seats.

“I wanted to personally tell the LRT commuters to register and register early. People should not wait for the deadline before they go to COMELEC offices to register,” Brillantes said.

“This is also a call for the public to patronize the LRT, not only because riding its trains are good for the environment, the LRT is also strong supporter of the Filipino people’s right to suffrage.”

Brillantes said that the LRTA allowed the COMELEC to post voter registration posters and streamers at all LRT stations and terminals.

Resolution No. 9220 - Guidelines for Registration of Persons With Disabilities (PWDS)

Resolution No. 9220

GUIDELINES FOR REGISTRATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWDs)

[Promulgation: 12 May 2011]

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 9149 promulgated on 22 February 201, entitled Rules and Regulations for the Resumption of the System of Continuing Registration and Validation of Records in Non-ARMM, provides that they system of continuing registration for Non-ARMM areas shall resume on 1 April 2011, and end on 31 October 2012;

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 9168, promulgated on 22 March 2011, resets the schedule for the system of continuing registration in the Non-ARMM areas from 1 April 2011 to 3 May 2011;

WHEREAS, Article 29 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by the Philippines, directs State Parties to guarantee to persons with disabilities political rights and the opportunity to enjoy them on an equal basis with others and undertake measures to enable PWDs to vote on equal basis with others, inter alia;

WHEREAS, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 7277 as amended by RA 9442 or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities defines PWDs as those suffering from restriction or different abilities, as a result of a mental, physical or sensory impairment, to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being;

WHEREAS, the Technical Working Group constituted to help formulate policies to afford Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) greater access to the electoral processes, including the registration process, has recommended the identification of the type of disability of registrants to enable the Commission to amply prepare for the kinds of assistance that may be extended to PWDs on election day;

WHEREAS, the continuing registration should provide PWDs the change to update their records by filling up the appropriate forms so that they can be accurately identified by the Commission on election day;

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act No. 8189 and other related election laws, the Commission on Elections RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to promulgate the following guidelines in filling-up the Registration Forms involving PWDs.

Section 1. Coverage. - These Guidelines shall cover the following registration-related-activities:

a. Application for Registration; 

b. Application for Transfer/Transfer with Reactivation; 

c. Reactivation of Registration Record; 

d. For Application for Change/Correction of Entries; and 

e. Validation of Registration.

Section 2. Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). - Persons with disabilities (PWDs) shall include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments, which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others,  For purposes of these Guidelines, PWDs shall include those with any of the following disabilities, which hamper the full enjoyment of the right to suffrage:

a. Physical - Pertains to conditions associated with muscular or skeletal functions that limit a persons performance of activities associated with movement, both the person himself and/or of objects. 

b. Hearing - Pertains to conditions associated to the auditory senses that can manifest as partial or complete loss of hearing. 

c. Speech - Pertains to conditions related to difficulties in communicating through speech. 

d. Visual - Pertains to conditions associated with visual senses that can manifest as partial or complete loss of sight, among others. 

e. Non-Manifest - Pertains to conditions that are not immediately apparent but may need assistance from the COMELEC.

Section 3. Filling-up the Registration Forms. - For PWDs needing assistance, the applicant for registration/reactivation/transfer/correction of entry may indicate in the appropriate box (pertaining to disables/differently-abled persons), the type(s) of impairment, as well as the form(s) of assistance needed during election day, as follows:

Example:  For person with physical impairment (code: 1) needing accessible precinct (code: C), put 1C on the box pertaining to disabled/differently-abled persons.

Section 4. Accomplishment of application Form. - A PWD who cannot by himself/herself accomplish an application for registration, shall be assisted by the EO in the preparation of his/her application form, or by any member of an accredited Citizens arm, or a relative within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, or if he/she has none present, by any person of his/her confidence who belongs to the same household, in accordance with Section 9 of Resolution No. 9149.

COMELEC sets early voter's registration for 2013 polls

MANILA CITY, METRO MANILA — Starting May 3, new and eligible voters for the upcoming 2013 elections can start filing their applications, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

“We are urging all eligible first-time voters who will turn at least 18 years old on May 2013 to file their voter's registration this early.  Let us avoid last-minute registrations so we can take part in electing our nation's leaders,” said Comelec spokesman James Jimenez.

Deadline of registration is October 31, 2012 but the Comelec is encouraging early registration so it can prepare better for the conduct of automated polls with the use of special ballots, such as those used in the May 2010 national elections, he added.

Aside from first-time voters, persons who want to transfer registration records to a new residence; change, update or correct entries such as those for newly-wed women who changed surnames; and voters whose records were deactivated for failure to vote in the past two elections can also file their applications within the registration period.

All voter applications must be personally filed at the office of the election officer in the municipal or city office where the applicant resides and wishes to vote.

Voters no longer need to bring photographs because his or her biometrics records composed of a digital photograph, fingerprints, and signature will be entered in data capturing machines during the filing of registration.

The biometrics registration is important to purge the voter's list of duplicate registration records and to update records of voters who were unable to enroll their biometrics information with Comelec, according to Resolution No. 9149 promulgated on February 22.

Applications will be received from Monday to Saturday, inclusive of holidays during regular office hours from 8am to 5pm.  There will be no registration on December 22 to January 2 for the Christmas break.

Schedules for satellite registration in highly-populated areas will be announced after coordination with Comelec municipal and town offices.

Applicants must bring any valid school or government ID to register. Community tax certificates (Cedula) and certifications from the barangay will not be honored as valid identification documents.

For inquiries, contact the Comelec education and information department at (02) 525-9294. - By: Anna Valmero

Voter registration and validation of registration records resumes today

Voter registration and validation of registration records in areas not within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) resumed on Tuesday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

The continuing registration in non-ARMM areas was supposed to resume on April 1, 2011 but was moved to May 3, 2011.  It will end on Oct. 31, 2012.

However, the Comelec said voter registration will take a short break from Dec. 22, 2011 to Jan. 3, 2012.  The next national elections will be conducted in May 2013.

In Comelec Resolution 9168, the poll body said voter registration was reset because their regional election directors needed more time to procure and deliver voter application forms to the offices of provincial election supervisors.

Comelec Resolution 9149 says that voters not yet registered are required to personally file at the Office of the Election Officer in the city or municipality where the applicant resides their applications for:

  registration;

  transfer of registration records;

  change or correction of entries in the registration records;

  reactivation of registration records;

  inclusion of registration records, or 

  reinstatement of name in the list of voters.

Registration hours

The Comelec said applications will be received from Monday to Saturday, including holidays, during regular office hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

However, it said satellite registrations for detainee voters in detention centers shall also be conducted beginning January 12, 2012 to "ensure wider voter participation."

However, the Comelec announced in a separate resolution that resumption of voter registration in 10 municipalities in the 1st district of Ilocos Sur will be moved to July 1, 2011 since the poll body still has to conduct special elections in the area on May 28.

The 10 municipalities are: Bantay, Cabugao, Caoayan, Magsingal, San Ildefonso, San Juan, San Vicente, Sta. Catalina, Sinait, and Vigan City.

On the other hand, the 10-day voter registration for the August 2011 ARMM polls ended last March 31.

Requirements

The poll body said any Filipino citizen who is at least 18 years old, a resident for at least one year in the place where he intends to vote – for at least six months immediately preceding the election day – may file an application for registration.

Applicants need only bring any valid ID when they register, such as but not limited to:

  Current employee’s ID, with the signature of the employer or authorized representative;

  Postal ID;

  Student’s ID or library card, signed by the school authority;

  Senior citizen’s ID;

  Driver’s license;

  NBI/PNP clearance;

  Passport;

  SSS/GSIS ID;

  Integrated Bar of the Philippine (IBP) ID, and

  License issued by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC).

The Comelec reminded applicants that community tax certificates (cedula) and barangay certifications will not be honored as valid identification documents. - VVP, GMA News

Voter Registration and Validation to Start on May 3, 2011 instead of April 1

RESOLUTION NO. 9168

 IN THE MATTER OF THE RESETTING OF THE RESUMPTION OF THE SYSTEM OF CONTINUING REGISTRATION OF VOTERS IN THE NON-ARMM AREAS, FROM APRIL 1, 2011 TO MAY 3, 2011.

Promulgation: 22 March 2011

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WHEREAS, Resolution No. 9149, promulgated on February 22, 2011 entitled “Rules and Regulations For the Resumption of the System of Continuing Registration and Validation of Registration Records in the Non-ARMM Areas”, provides that the system of continuing of registration of voters for non-ARMM areas shall resume on April 1, 2011 and end on October 31, 2012;

WHEREAS, in order to expedite the distribution to the field offices of application forms to be used in connection with the resumption of the system of continuing registration of voters, the Commission promulgated on March 02, 2011, Minute Resolution No. 11-0268, delegating to the Regional Election Directors of the non-ARMM areas the authority to procure said application forms for use in their respective area of jurisdiction;

WHEREAS, to afford the Regional Election Directors with sufficient time to procure the application forms, and deliver the same to the offices of their respective Provincial Election Supervisors, there is a need to reset the commencement of the system of continuing the registration of voters in the non-ARMM areas;

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution, Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act No. 8189 and other election laws, the Commission RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to reset the resumption of the system of continuing registration of voters in the non-ARMM areas from April 1, 2011 to May 3, 2011.

Let the Education and Information Department cause the widest dissemination of this Resolution, and its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation of the Philippines.

SO ORDERED.

(Sgd.) SIXTO S. BRILLANTES, JR. Chairman
(Sgd.) RENE V. SARMIENTO Commissioner	(Sgd.) LUCENITO N. TAGLE Commissioner
(Sgd.) ARMANDO C. VELASCO Commissioner	(Sgd.) ELIAS R. YUSOPH  Commissioner