Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

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NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 2 10

Introduced by
ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO,
GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS,
and KABATAAN Party-List Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR TRANSPARENT ALTERNATIVE MANUAL-
AUTOMATION ELECTION SYSTEM FOR PHILIPPINE ELECTIONS
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

One of the main problems in the purely manual Philippine elections before
2010 is the prevalence of electoral fraud and the delay in the proclamation of results,
Because precincts are only allowed 200-300 voters for each precinct, the large-scale
fraud and inordinate delay do not mainly happen in the precinct level as the votes to
be counted are few and the counting of said votes are finished on the night after the
elections or at most in the next day, The electoral fraud encountered normally in the
precinct level is vote buying, which of course, is not brought about by the fact that the
election is manual or automated, but rather by the unchecked spending of millions of
pesos by candidates long before election day.

Large-scale fraud (in the form of dagdag-bawas) in purely manual elections
mainly takes place in the Municipality, City, Provincial and National canvassing
process where thousands or even hundreds of thousands of votes are canvassed. The
canvassing stage is also delayed for weeks, not only giving room for fraudsters to
conduct their dagdag-bawas operations but also causes uncertainty resulting from the
very long delays.

‘The solution offered by many was the elimination of purely manual elections
and transforming the system into purely automated elections. The automation law
automates the entire election from the precinct level up to the national canvassing.


The problem in purely automated elections is the lack of transparency and
accountability in the entire process and, in the end, the credibility of the elections
because of the absence of a verifiable process that would assure the voters that their
votes were properly counted and canvassed. While there have been reports of rampant
electoral fraud in the election process (such as tampering with the source code,
absence of scan and ultraviolet s¢curity, hacking, manipulating results, and fraudulent
operations of the transparency servers, etc.), the lack of transparency in the entire
process makes it difficult to investigate or gather evidence that is credible to the eyes
of the people and the voters. That is why vigorous questions on the legitimacy of the
previous elections plagued the country every after elections

This bill aims to provide a solution to the problem—it will retain the speed of
automation in the canvassing process where large-scale fraud and delay normally take
place, but will institute a manual voting process in the precinct level to verify and
validate the results of the automated canvassing process.

This way, the Philippine elections will not be held under a purely automated
system controlled by a technology company or anyone who has control over the
technology employed. Since the Transparent Alternative Manual-Automated
Election System (TAMA election system) being proposed under this Act only requires
computers with basic capacity to consolidate and transmit election results, the
estimated expense is only about 20-30% of the cost than if COMELEC were to spend
billions to hire Smartmatic or any other tech company to conduct our elections for us.
There is no need for the untransparent and complicated technology of Smartmatic
since any attempt at hacking, or manipulating the results may now be countered and
validated through the actual voting results in the precincts and polling places

The Philippines can have a manual counting of votes to show the people that
their votes have been counted, and an automated canvassing to ensure speedy
canvassing of results, without incurring billions of pesos in Smartmatic PCOS
machines.

The basic principles of the exercise of our right to suffrage are secret voting
and public counting, The current automation law has made our elections basically
secret voting and secret counting because while canvassing is shown to the public, the
people do not actually know how their votes were counted or canvassed. In fact, there
are instances when, because the automated ballots are large, the candidates “shaded”
by the voter are easily seen by the BEI and the public, making our election system
public voting and secret counting. This Bill seeks the return of these basic principles
—a transparent election system that combines automation and manual elections to
ensure that there is indeed, secret voting and public counting.

The Bill contains a procedure that combines manual voting (in the precinct
level) and automated canvassing in the municipality, city, provincial and national
level:


1) People vote in precincts under the Omnibus Election Code and COMELEC
procedure for manual voting by writing their choice of candidates using
ordinary ballots. These ballots will be counted after the closing of the precinct
after 3 pm.

2

The results will be tallied and recorded in view of watchers as in previous
manual elections. However, the precinct results will be consolidated at the
Consolidation Center of the polling place (usually a school) and the precinct
results will be encoded in a computer.

3

The consolidated results of the precincts in that particular polling place shall
then be transmitted by a secure and appropriate technology to the Municipal or
City Canvassing Boards, the Commission on Elections Central Server, the
citizens election arm, or any other party designated by the Commission. While
the possibility of hacking or electronic fraud is there despite heightened
security set up for the transmission, these attempts at fraud can be countered
and checked by the manually prepared election returns showing the actual
results in the precinct level

4) The Municipal and City Board of Canvassers will canvass the results of the
automated transmissions to speed up the canvassing, although this time the
automated results can now be validated by the election returns in the possession
of the COMELEC, the Official Citizens election arm, the Dominant Majority
and Minority parties and other parties given copies of the precinct election
returns as well as the printed copy of the Polling Place results as consolidated
by the Consolidation Center in a particular polling place

5

Once the Municipal and City Board of Canvassers have canvassed the votes of
the different polling centers in their particular jurisdiction, they will announce
the winners in that locality. At the same time, they will transmit the results for
the provincial, congressional and national positions to the Provincial Board of
Canvassers as well as the Commission on Elections, the citizens election arm
or any other party designated by the Commission.

6) The Provincial Board of Canvassers will follow the same procedure including
the canvassing of the transmitted results.

7) The Comelec National Canvassing Board for national positions and the
Congressional Canvassing Board for the Presidential and Vice-Presidential
elections shall similarly canvass the electronically transmitted results but this
time, the results can be validated through the manually prepared elections
returns which shows the actual result per precinct as well as the printed
consolidated result from every polling place in the country.

The procedure is designed to be transparent and verifiable without sacrificing
the need for speedy results through an automated process.


In 2009 the Federal Court of Germany declared their automated election
system unconstitutional. The Court held that the particular voting machines used in
the election did not live up to the constitutional principle of transparency of elections,
which requires that voting machines be safeguarded against potential manipulation or
error through procedures that are understandable to the average citizen. The Court
noted that, under their constitution, elections are required to be public in nature and:

that all essential steps of an election are subject to the possibility of
public scrutiny unless other constitutional interests justify an exception
x x x The use of voting machines which electronically record the
voters’ votes and electronically ascertain the election result only meets
the constitutional requirements if the essential steps of the voting and
of the ascertainment of the result can be examined reliably and without
any specialist knowledge of the subject x x x The very wide-reaching
effect of possible errors of the voting machines or of deliberate
electoral fraud make special precautions necessary in order to
safeguard the principle of the public nature of elections,

This Bill was first filed as House Bill 8644 during the 18th Congress by the
Bayan Muna Partylist Reps. Carlos Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite and Eufemia Cullamat,
ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene
Brosas and Kabataan Partylist Rep. Sarah Elago. It is about time for the Philippines to
remedy the anomalies that plagued our elections for years.

Hence, the approval of this Bill is earnestly sought.

Rd. ARLENE D. BROSAS Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL
GABRIELA Women’s Party KABATAAN Party-List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._ 210

Introduced by
ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. FRANCE L. CASTRO,
GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. ARLENE D. BROSAS,
and KABATAAN Party-List Rep. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR TRANSPARENT ALTERNATIVE MANUAL-
AUTOMATION ELECTION SYSTEM FOR PHILIPPINE ELECTIONS
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Act Providing for Transparent
Alternative Manual-Automation Election System (TAMA Election System) for
Philippine Elections.”

SEC. 2. Section 31 of Republic Act No. 8436, as amended by Section 30 of RA 9369,
is hereby amended to read as follows:

SEC. 31. Rules and Regulations. — The Commission shall promulgate rules and
regulations for the implementation and enforcement of this Act.

Notwithstanding the foregoing canvassing procedure, the Commission is
authorized to prescribe other manner or procedure for the canvassing and
consolidation of votes as technology evolves, [subject to the provisions of
section 7 hereof on the minimum capabilities of the AES and other pertinent
laws] PROVIDED THAT, WHILE THE COMMISSION WILL NO
LONGER REQUIRE PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN AUTOMATED
ELECTIONS FROM PARTIES THAT WILL IMPLEMENT THE
AUTOMATED PROCEDURE UNDER THIS ACT, IT WILL STILL
ENSURE THAT THE WINNING BIDDER IS CREDIBLE AND THE


TECHNOLOGY OFFERED IS NOT OVERPRICED. FOR THE
PURPOSES OF THE ELECTIONS SUBSEQUENT TO THE MAY 10,
2022, ELECTIONS, HOWEVER, THE COMMISSION SHALL
PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS IN CONSONANCE
WITH THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE:

(1) FILING OF CERTIFICATES OF CANDIDACY. - THE
CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY OF ANY PERSON RUNNING FOR
THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT, SENATOR,
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, PARTY-LIST
REPRESENTATIVES OR ANY ELECTIVE PROVINCIAL, CITY OR
MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL SHALL BE FILED IN TWELVE (12)
LEGIBLE COPIES WITH THE OFFICES OF THE COMMISSION
SPECIFIED HEREUNDER NOT LATER THAN THE DAY BEFORE
THE DATE LEGALLY FIXED FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE
CAMPAIGN PERIOD.

(a) THE CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT, VICE-
PRESIDENT, SENATORS AND PARTY-LIST
REPRESENTATIVES SHALL BE FILED WITH THE MAIN
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSION IN MANILA;

(b) THE CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY FOR MEMBERS OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SHALL BE FILED WITH THE
PROVINCIAL ELECTION SUPERVISOR OF THE PROVINCE
CONCERNED. THOSE FOR LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS IN
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION SHALL BE FILED WITH
THE REGIONAL ELECTION DIRECTOR OF SAID REGION
AND THOSE FOR LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS IN CITIES
OUTSIDE THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION WHICH
COMPRISE ONE OR MORE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS
SHALL BE FILED WITH THE CITY ELECTION REGISTRAR
CONCERNED;

(c) THE CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY FOR PROVINCIAL
OFFICES SHALL BE FILED WITH THE PROVINCIAL
SUPERVISOR CONCERNED; AND

(d)THE CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY FOR CITY OR
MUNICIPAL OFFICES SHALL BE FILED WITH THE CITY OR
MUNICIPAL ELECTION REGISTRAR CONCERNED.

THE CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY SHALL BE FILED BY
THE CANDIDATE PERSONALLY OR BY HIS DULY
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE. NO CERTIFICATE OF


CANDIDACY SHALL BE FILED OR ACCEPTED BY MAIL,
TELEGRAM OR FACSIMILE.

(2) OFFICIAL BALLOTS.

(a) OFFICIAL BALLOTS FOR 2022 AND THE SUCCEEDING
NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS SHALL BE OF
UNIFORM SIZE AND SHALL BE PRESCRIBED BY THE
COMMISSION: THEY SHALL BE PRINTED IN BLACK INK
ON A SECURITY PAPER WITH DISTINCTIVE, CLEAR, AND
LEGIBLE WATERMARKS WHICH CAN BE READILY
DISTINGUISHED FROM ORDINARY PAPER. EACH BALLOT
SHALL BE IN THE SHAPE OF A (SIZE) STRIP WITH STUB
AND DETACHABLE COUPON CONTAINING THE SERIAL
NUMBER OF THE BALLOT, AND A SPACE FOR THE THUMB
MARK OF THE VOTER ON THE DETACHABLE COUPON. IT
SHALL BEAR AT THE TOP OF THE VOTER ON THE
DETACHABLE COUPON. IT SHALL BEAR AT THE TOP, IN
THE MIDDLE PORTION THEREOF, THE COAT-AT-ARMS OF
THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, THE WORD
"OFFICIAL BALLOT", THE NAME OF THE CITY OR THE
MUNICIPALITY AND PROVINCE IN WHICH THE ELECTION
IS TO BE HELD, THE DATE OF THE ELECTION, AND THE
FOLLOWING NOTICE IN ENGLISH: "FILL OUT THIS
BALLOT SECRETLY INSIDE THE VOTING BOOTH. DO NOT
PUT ANY DISTINCT MARK ON ANY PART OF THIS
BALLOT."

(b) THERE SHALL NOT BE ANYTHING PRINTED OR WRITTEN
ON THE BACK OF THE BALLOT EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN
SECTION 24 OF RA 7166.

(c) OFFICIAL BALLOT FOR CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES
WHERE ARABIC IS OF GENERAL USE SHALL HAVE EACH
OF THE TITLES OF THE OFFICES TO BE VOTED FOR
PRINTED IN ARABIC IN ADDITION TO AND IMMEDIATELY
BELOW THE ENGLISH TITLE.

(d) NOTWITHSTANDING THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS, THE
COMMISSION IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO PRESCRIBE A
DIFFERENT FORM OF OFFICIAL BALLOT ON THE SAME
WATERMARKED SECURITY PAPER TO FACILITATE
VOTING BY ILLITERATE VOTER ONLY AND TO USE OR
ADOPT THE LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL AND ELECTRONIC
DEVICES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH AS PROVIDED
UNDER SECTION 52 (I) OF THE OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE.


(e) THE VOTERS SHALL FILL OUT THE BALLOTS BY WRITING
THE NAME OF THE CANDIDATES IN THE BALLOTS
THROUGH A PROCEDURE PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTIONS
190 TO 205 OF THE OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE.

(3) MANNER OF COUNTING VOTES. — IN ADDITION TO THE
REQUIREMENT IN THE FOURTH PARAGRAPH OF SECTION 12 OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6646 AND SECTION 210 OF THE OMNIBUS
ELECTION CODE, IN READING THE OFFICIAL BALLOTS DURING
THE COUNTING, THE CHAIRMAN, THE POLL CLERK AND THE
THIRD MEMBER SHALL ASSUME SUCH POSITIONS AS TO
PROVIDE THE WATCHERS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
AS MAY BE CONVENIENTLY ACCOMMODATED IN THE POLLING
PLACE, AN UNIMPEDED VIEW OF THE BALLOT BEING READ BY
THE CHAIRMAN, OF THE ELECTION RETURN AND THE TALLY
BOARD BEING SIMULTANEOUSLY ACCOMPLISHED BY THE
POLL CLERK AND THE THIRD MEMBER RESPECTIVELY,
WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY OF THESE ELECTION DOCUMENTS.
THE TABLE SHALL BE CLEARED OF ALL UNNECESSARY
WRITING PARAPHERNALIA. ANY VIOLATION OF THIS
REQUIREMENT SHALL CONSTITUTE AN ELECTION OFFENSE
PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 263 AND 264 THE OMNIBUS
ELECTION CODE.

THE CHAIRMAN SHALL FIRST READ THE VOTES FOR
NATIONAL POSITIONS AND SHALL ONLY READ THE VOTES FOR
THE LOCAL POSITIONS AFTER READING THE VOTES FOR ALL
THE CANDIDATES FOR THE NATIONAL POSITION. ANY
VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION, OR ITS PERTINENT PORTION,
SHALL CONSTITUTE AN ELECTION OFFENSE AND SHALL BE
PENALIZED IN ACCORDANCE WITH BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 881.

THERE SHALL BE A BEI ASSISTOR FOR EACH CONSTITUTED BEL
TO BE APPOINTED BY THE CITY OR MUNICIPAL BOC WHOSE
ONLY FUNCTION IS TO ENSURE THE DATA IMAGE CAPTURING
AND THE REPRODUCTION OF THE ELECTION RETURN AS
PROVIDED UNDER THIS ACT.

(4) COUNTING OF VOTES TO BE PUBLIC AND WITHOUT
INTERRUPTION. - AS SOON AS THE VOTING IS FINISHED, THE
BOARD OF ELECTION INSPECTORS SHALL PUBLICLY COUNT IN
THE POLLING PLACE THE VOTES CAST AND ASCERTAIN THE
RESULTS. THE BOARD MAY REARRANGE THE PHYSICAL SET UP
OF THE POLLING PLACE FOR THE COUNTING OR PERFORM
ANY OTHER ACTIVITY WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSITION


FROM VOTING TO COUNTING. HOWEVER, IT MAY DO SO ONLY
IN THE PRESENCE OF THE WATCHERS AND WITHIN CLOSE
VIEW OF THE PUBLIC. AT ALL TIMES, THE BALLOT BOXES AND
ALL ELECTION DOCUMENTS AND PARAPHERNALIA SHALL BE
WITHIN CLOSE AND UNIMPEDED VIEW OF THE WATCHERS
AND THE PUBLIC.

THE BOARD OF ELECTION INSPECTORS SHALL NOT ADJOURN
OR POSTPONE OR DELAY THE COUNT UNTIL IT HAS BEEN
FULLY COMPLETED, UNLESS OTHERWISE ORDERED BY THE
COMMISSION.

THE COMMISSION, IN THE INTEREST OF FREE, ORDERLY, AND
HONEST ELECTION, MAY AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF
ELECTION INSPECTORS TO COUNT THE VOTES AND TO
ACCOMPLISH THE ELECTION RETURN AND OTHER FORMS
PRESCRIBED UNDER THE CODE IN ANY OTHER PLACE WITHIN
A PUBLIC BUILDING IN THE SAME MUNICIPALITY OR CITY ON
ACCOUNT OF IMMINENT DANGER OF WIDESPREAD VIOLENCE
OR SIMILAR CAUSES OF COMPARABLE MAGNITUDE:
PROVIDED, THAT THE TRANSFER SHALL HAVE BEEN
RECOMMENDED IN WRITING BY THE BOARD OF ELECTION
INSPECTORS BY UNANIMOUS VOTE AND ENDORSED IN
WRITING BY THE MAJORITY OF WATCHERS PRESENT:
PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT THE SAID PUBLIC BUILDING SHALL
NOT BE LOCATED WITHIN THE PERIM R OF OR INSIDE A
MILITARY OR POLICE CAMP, RESERVATION, HEADQUARTERS,
DETACHMENT OR FIELD OFFICE NOR WITHIN THE PREMISES
OF A PRISON OR DETENTION BUREAU OR ANY LAW
ENFORCEMENT OR INVESTIGATION AGENCY.

ANY VIOLATION OF THIS SUB-SECTION OR ITS PERTINENT
PORTION, SHALL CONSTITUTE AN ELECTION OFFENSE AND
SHALL BE PENALIZED IN ACCORDANCE WITH BATAS
PAMBANSA BLG. 881.

(5) ELECTION RETURNS. THE BOARD OF ELECTION INSPECTORS
SHALL PREPARE THE ELECTION RETURNS SIMULTANEOUSLY
WITH THE COUNTING OF VOTES IN THE POLLING PLACES AS
PRESCRIBED IN SECTION 210 OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 881, AS.
AMENDED. THE RECORDING OF VOTES SHALL BE MADE AS
PRESCRIBED IN SAID SECTION. THE ENTRY OF VOTES IN
WORDS AND FIGURES FOR EACH CANDIDATE SHALL BE
CLOSED WITH THE SIGNATURE AND THE CLEAR IMPRINT OF
THE THUMB MARK OF THE RIGHT HAND OF ALL THE
MEMBERS, LIKEWISE TO BE AFFIXED IN FULL VIEW OF THE


PUBLIC, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LAST VOTE RECORDED OR
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE NAME OF THE CANDIDATE WHO
DID NOT RECEIVE ANY VOTE. THE RETURNS SHALL ALSO
SHOW: THE DATE OF THE ELECTION; THE POLLING PLACE;
THE BARANGAY AND THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY IN WHICH IT
WAS HELD; THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BALLOTS FOUND IN THE
COMPARTMENT FOR VALID BALLOTS; THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
VALID BALLOTS WITHDRAWN FROM THE COMPARTMENT FOR
SPOILED BALLOTS BECAUSE THEY WERE ERRONEOUSLY
PLACED THEREIN; THE TOTAL NUMBER OF EXCESS BALLOTS;
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MARKED OR VOID BALLOTS; AND THE
TOTAL NUMBERS OF VOTES OBTAINED BY EACH CANDIDATE,
WRITING OUT THE SAID NUMBER IN WORDS AND FIGURES
AND, AT THE END THEREOF, THE BOARD OF ELECTION
INSPECTORS SHALL CERTIFY THAT THE CONTENTS ARE
CORRECT. THE RETURNS SHALL BE ACCOMPLISHED IN A
SINGLE SHEET OF PAPER, BUT IF THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE,
ADDITIONAL SHEETS MAY BE USED WHICH SHALL BE
PREPARED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE FIRST SHEET AND
LIKEWISE CERTIFIED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTION
INSPECTORS.

THE COMMISSION SHALL TAKE STEPS SO THAT THE ENTRIES
ON THE FIRST COPY OF THE ELECTION RETURNS ARE
CLEARLY REPRODUCED ON THE SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH,
FIFTH, SIXTH, SEVENTH AND EIGHT COPIES THEREOF, AND
FOR THE PURPOSE, THIS COMMISSION SHALL USE A SPECIAL
KIND OF PAPER. IMMEDIATELY UPON THE ACCOMPLISHMENT
INCLUDING THE SIGNING BY THE BEI OF THE ELECTION
RETURN, THE POLL CLERK SHALL ANNOUNCE THE POSTING
OF THE THIRD COPY OF THE ELECTION RETURN ON A WALL
WITH SUFFICIENT LIGHTING WITHIN THE PREMISES OF THE
POLLING PLACE OR COUNTING CENTER. HE/SHE SHALL THEN
PROCEED TO DO THE SAME IN THE PRESENCE OF THE OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE WATCHERS, AND THOSE
PRESENT IN THE POLLING PLACE OR COUNTING CENTER.

WITHOUT DELAY THE POLL CLERK SHALL ORDER THE
ASSISTOR OF THE BEI TO SECURE AN IMAGE OF THE FIRST
COPY OF THE ELECTION RETURN USING A CAMERA AND
IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER, PRINT THIRTY (30) COPIES OF
THE SAID ELECTION RETURN IN THE ELECTION RESULTS
PRINTING ROOM WITHIN THE POLLING CENTER. A CAMERA
SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE ELECTION PARAPHERNALIA
DISTRIBUTED TO THE BEI WITH THE RATIO OF ONE CAMERA
PER FIVE PRECINCTS. A SECURED COMPUTER AND


PHOTOCOPIER SHALL ALSO BE ASSIGNED AS PART OF THE
ELECTION PARAPHERNALIA FOR POLLING CENTERS AT THE
RATIO OF ONE COMPUTER AND PHOTOCOPIER PER 50
PRECINTS, WHICH SHALL BE DEPLOYED AT A SECURED ROOM
WITHIN THE POLLING CENTER DESIGNATED AS “ELECTION
RESULTS PRINTING ROOM.”

A POLLING CENTER IS DEFINED AS THE PLACE, USUALLY A
PUBLIC SCHOOL, WHERE THE MUNICIPAL OR CITY PRECINCTS
ARE LOCATED.

ONCE THE PRINTS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED, THE POLL CLERK
SHALL CALL THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO
AUTHENTICATE EACH PRINT COPY BY CLOSELY COMPARING
THE SAME WITH THE FIRST AND SECOND COPY OF THE
COMPLETED ELECTION RETURN SIMULTANEOUSLY IN THE
PRESENCE OF THE WATCHERS AND WITHIN VIEW OF THE
PUBLIC. IF THE REPRINTED COPY DOES NOT TALLY WITH
BOTH THE AFOREMENTIONED RETURNS, THE BEI SHALL
DESTROY THE SAME BY CUTTING THE THIRTY (30) COPIES OF
THE ELECTION RETURNED INTO FOUR (4) PARTS AND PLACE
THESE IN THE BALLOT BOX ASSIGNED FOR THAT PURPOSE
AND CONDUCT THE IMAGE CAPTURING PROCEDURE ALL OVER
AGAIN. ALL THESE WILL BE DULY RECORDED IN THE BEI LOG
BOOK. IF THE BOARD FINDS EACH PRINT A FAITHFUL
REPRODUCTION OF THE FIRST AND SECOND COPY OF THE
ELECTION RETURN, ALL MEMBERS THEREOF SHALL
ANNOTATE AND SIGN A CERTIFICATION TO THAT EFFECT ON
THE BOTTOM FRONT OF THE PRINTED COPY OF THE
ELECTION RETURNS. EACH CERTIFIED PRINTED COPY SHALL
BE PLACED IN AN ENVELOPE AND DISTRIBUTED TO THE
RECIPIENTS UNDER SUB-SECTION 31.6. DESIGNATED
RECIPIENTS OF THE CERTIFIED PRINT COPIES MAY RECEIVE
THEIR COPIES AT THE POLLING PLACE OR CONSOLIDATING
CENTER.

ANY ELECTION RETURN WITH A SEPARATELY PRINTED SERIAL
NUMBER OR WHICH BEARS A DIFFERENT SERIAL NUMBER
FROM THAT ASSIGNED TO THE PARTICULAR POLLING PLACE
CONCERNED SHALL NOT BE CANVASSED. THIS IS TO BE
DETERMINED BY THE BOARD CANVASSERS PRIOR TO ITS
CANVASSING ON THE BASIS OF THE CERTIFICATION OF THE
PROVINCIAL, CITY OR MUNICIPAL TREASURER AS TO THE
SERIAL NUMBER OF THE ELECTION RETURN ASSIGNED TO
SAID VOTING PRECINCT, UNLESS THE COMMISSION SHALL


ORDER IN WRITING FOR ITS CANVASSING, STATING THE
REASON FOR THE VARIANCE IN SERIAL NUMBERS.

IF THE SIGNATURES AND/OR THUMBMARKS OF THE MEMBERS
OF THE BOARD OF ELECTION INSPECTORS OR SOME OF THEM
AS REQUIRED IN THIS PROVISION ARE MISSING IN THE
ELECTION RETURNS, THE BOARD OF CANVASSERS MAY
SUMMON THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ELECTION
INSPECTORS CONCERNED TO COMPLETE THE RETURNS.

THE CITIZEN’S ARM IS MANDATED TO PRESENT FOR PERUSAL
ITS COPY OF THE ELECTION RETURN TO THE BOARD OF
ELECTION CANVASSERS UPON THE REQUEST AND EXPENSE OF
ANY INTERESTED CANDIDATE. REFUSAL OF THE CITIZENS
ARM TO PROVIDE COPIES FOR PERUSAL OR PHOTOCOPYING IS
AN ELECTION OFFENSE. ANY VIOLATION OF THIS ELECTION
OR ITS PERTINENT PORTION, SHALL CONSTITUTE AN
ELECTION OFFENSE AND SHALL BE PENALIZED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 881.

IN ADDITION, THE FOLLOWING SHALL LIKEWISE BE GUILTY
OF AN ELECTION OFFENSE:

(a)ANY PERSON WHO REMOVES THE ELECTION RETURN
POSTED ON THE WALL, WHETHER WITHIN OR AFTER THE
PRESCRIBED FORTY-EIGHT (48) HOURS OF POSTING, OR
DEFACES THE SAME IN ANY MANNER;

(b)ANY PERSON WHO SIMULATES AN ACTUAL ELECTION
RETURN, OR A PRINT OR DIGITAL COPY THEREOF;

(c) ANY PERSON WHO SIMULATES THE CERTIFICATION IN A
PRINT OF AN ELECTION RETURN;

(d) THE CHAIRMAN OR ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF
ELECTION INSPECTORS WHO, DURING THE PRESCRIBED
PERIOD OF POSTING, REMOVES THE ELECTION RETURN
FROM THE WALL ON WHICH IT HAD BEEN POSTED
OTHER THAN FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMMEDIATELY
TRANSFERRING IT TO A MORE SUITABLE PLACE;

(e) THE CHAIRMAN OR ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF
ELECTION INSPECTORS WHO SIGNS OR AUTHENTICATES,
A PRINT OF THE ELECTION RETURN OUTSIDE OF THE
POLLING PLACE; AND


(f) THE CHAIRMAN OR ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF
ELECTION INSPECTORS WHO SIGNS OR AUTHENTICATES
A PRINT WHICH BEARS AN IMAGE DIFFERENT FROM THE
ELECTION RETURN PRODUCED AFTER COUNTING AND
POSTED ON THE WALL.

(6) NUMBER OF COPIES OF ELECTION RETURNS AND THEIR
DISTRIBUTION. THE BOARD OF ELECTION INSPECTORS SHALL
PREPARE IN HANDWRITING THE ELECTION RETURNS IN THEIR
RESPECTIVE POLLING PLACE, IN THE NUMBER OF COPIES
HEREIN PROVIDED AND IN THE FORM TO BE PRESCRIBED AND
PROVIDED BY THE COMMISSION. THE COPIES OF ELECTION
RETURNS SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
BOARD OF ELECTION INSPECTORS AS FOLLOWS:

(a)IN THE ELECTION OF PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT,
SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES INCLUDING THE PARTY-LIST
REPRESENTATIVES:

1) THE FIRST COPY SHALL BE DELIVERED TO THE
CITY OR MUNICIPAL BOARD OF CANVASSERS;

2) THE SECOND COPY SHALL BE DEPOSITED INSIDE
THE COMPARTMENT OF VALID BALLOTS AND
SHALL IMMEDIATELY BE BROUGHT FOR
CONSOLIDATION TO THE CONSOLIDATING CENTER
OF THE POLLING CENTER;

3) THE THIRD COPY TO BE POSTED ON A WALL
WITHIN THE PREMISES OF THE POLLING PLACE;

4) THE FOURTH COPY FOR THE CONGRESS, DIRECTED
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE;

5) THE FIFTH COPY TO THE COMMISSION;

6) THE SIXTH COPY TO THE DOMINANT MAJORITY
PARTY AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH LAW;

7) THE SEVENTH COPY, TO THE DOMINANT MINORITY
PARTY AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH LAW; AND


8) THE EIGHT COPY TO A CITIZENS' ORGANIZATION
AUTHORIZED BY THE COMMISSION TO CONDUCT
AN UNOFFICIAL COUNT; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
THAT THE ACCREDITATION OF THE CITIZENS' ARM
SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISION OF SECTION
52 (K) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 881;

(b) IN THE ELECTION OF LOCAL OFFICIALS;

1) THE FIRST COPY SHALL BE DELIVERED TO THE
CITY OR MUNICIPAL BOARD OF CANVASSERS;

2) THE SECOND COPY SHALL BE DEPOSITED INSIDE
THE COMPARTMENT OF VALID BALLOTS AND
IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT TO THE CONSOLIDATING
CENTER OF THE POLLING CENTER’ FOR
CONSOLIDATION

3) THE THIRD COPY, TO BE POSTED ON A WALL.
WITHIN THE PREMISES OF THE POLLING PLACE;

4) THE FOURTH COPY, FOR THE PROVINCIAL OR
DISTRICT BOARD OF CANVASSERS;

5) THE FIFTH COPY, TO THE COMMISSION;

6) THE SIXTH COPY, TO THE DOMINANT MAJORITY
PARTY AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH LAW;

7) THE SEVENTH COPY, TO THE DOMINANT MINORITY
PARTY AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH LAW; AND

8) THE EIGHT COPY, TO A CITIZENS' ORGANIZATION
AUTHORIZED BY THE COMMISSION TO CONDUCT
AN UNOFFICIAL COUNT: PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
THAT THE ACCREDITATION OF THE CITIZENS' ARM
SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISION OF SECTION
52(K) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 881;

THE COPY OF THE ELECTION RETURN POSTED ON THE
WALL SHALL BE OPEN FOR PUBLIC VIEWING AT ANY
TIME OF THE DAY FOR FORTY-EIGHT (48) HOURS
FOLLOWING ITS POSTING. ANY PERSON MAY VIEW OR
CAPTURE AN IMAGE OF THE ELECTION RETURN BY


MEANS OF ANY DATA CAPTURING DEVICE SUCH AS, BUT
NOT LIMITED TO, CAMERAS AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY
FOR FORTY-EIGHT (48) HOURS FOLLOWING ITS POSTING.
AFTER THE PRESCRIBED PERIOD FOR POSTING, THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF ELECTION INSPECTORS
SHALL COLLECT THE POSTED ELECTION RETURNS AND
KEEP THE SAME IN HIS CUSTODY TO BE PRODUCED FOR
IMAGE OR DATA CAPTURING AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY
ANY VOTER OR ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE AS MAY BE
ORDERED BY COMPETENT AUTHORITY.

THE THIRTY (30) CERTIFIED PRINT COPIES OF THE
ELECTION RETURN FOR NATIONAL POSITIONS SHALL BE
DISTRIBUTED AS FOLLOWS:

I. THE FIRST FOURTEEN (14) COPIES SHALL BE GIVEN TO
THE FOURTEEN (14) ACCREDITED MAJOR NATIONAL
PARTIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH A VOLUNTARY
AGREEMENT AMONG THEM. IF NO SUCH AGREEMENT IS
REACHED, THE COMMISSION SHALL DECIDE WHICH
PARTIES SHALL RECEIVE THE COPIES ON 'THE BASIS OF
THE CRITERIA PROVIDED IN SECTION 26 HEREOF;

Il. THE NEXT THREE (3) COPIES SHALL BE GIVEN TO THE
THREE ACCREDITED MAJOR LOCAL PARTIES IN
ACCORDANCE WITH A VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT AMONG
THEM. IF NO SUCH AGREEMENT IS REACHED, THE
COMMISSION SHALL DECIDE WHICH PARTIES SHALL
RECEIVE THE COPIES ON THE BASIS OF CRITERIA
ANALOGOUS TO THAT PROVIDED IN SECTION 26 HEREOF;

IIL THE NEXT FIVE (5) COPIES SHALL BE GIVEN TO
NATIONAL BROADCAST OR PRINT MEDIA ENTITIES AS
MAY BE EQUITABLY DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION
IN VIEW OF PROPAGATING THE COPIES TO THE WIDEST
EXTENT POSSIBLE;

IV. THE NEXT TWO (2) COPIES SHALL BE GIVEN TO LOCAL
BROADCAST OR PRINT MEDIA ENTITIES AS MAY BE
EQUITABLY DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION IN VIEW
OF PROPAGATING THE COPIES TO THE WIDEST EXTENT
POSSIBLE;

Vv. THE NEXT FOUR (4) COPIES TO THE MAJOR CITIZENS'
ARMS, INCLUDING THE ACCREDITED CITIZENS' ARMS
AND OTHER NON-PARTISAN GROUPS OR ORGANIZATIONS,


ENLISTED BY THE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO SECTION
52(K) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 881;

Vi. THE NEXT COPY TO BE PLACED INSIDE THE
COMPARTMENT OF THE BALLOT BOX FOR VALID
BALLOTS; AND

VI. THE LAST COPY TO THE PROVINCIAL BOARD OF
CANVASSERS.

THE CERTIFIED PRINT COPIES MAY BE CLAIMED AT THE
POLLING PLACE. ANY UNCLAIMED COPY SHALL BE
BROUGHT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF
ELECTION INSPECTORS TO THE CANVASSING CENTER
WHERE THE RECIPIENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES MAY
CLAIM THEM. COPIES STILL UNCLAIMED AT THE
CANVASSING CENTER SHALL BE PLACED IN THE
CUSTODY OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD ELECTION
INSPECTORS, WHO SHALL PRODUCE THEM WHEN
REQUESTED BY THE RECIPIENT OR WHEN ORDERED BY A
COMPETENT AUTHORITY.

ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY
NOTWITHSTANDING, ANY OF THE RECIPIENTS OF THE
PRINT OR DIGITAL COPIES OF THE ELECTION RETURN
MAY CONDUCT AN UNOFFICIAL CONSOLIDATION OF
VOTES AND MAY ANNOUNCE THE RESULT TO THE
PUBLIC.

ANY VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION, OR ITS PERTINENT
PORTION, SHALL CONSTITUTE AN ELECTION OFFENSE
AND SHALL BE PENALIZED IN ACCORDANCE WITH BATAS.
PAMBANSA BLG. 881;

(7) COMPUTERIZED CONSOLIDATION OF PRECINCT LEVEL VOTES
IN THE POLLING CENTER.

(a) THE CITY OR MUNICIPAL BOARD OF CANVASSERS SHALL
CREATE THE COMPUTERIZED VOTE CONSOLIDATION
(CVC) BOARD FOR EACH POLLING CENTER WITH AT
LEAST FIFTY (50) PRECINCTS, WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE
JURISDICTION HEADED BY THE CVC BOARD SUPERVISOR
FROM THE COMELEC, A DEPUTY SUPERVISOR AS THE
AUDITOR FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND A
THIRD MEMBER DESIGNATED AS THE ENCODER. THE
CVC BOARD WILL BE STATIONED IN A DESIGNATED AREA


IN THE POLLING CENTER WHICH SHALL BE CALLED THE
COMPUTERIZED CONSOLIDATION CENTER (CCC). THE
BOC SHALL CREATE A CVC BOARD WHICH SHALL
CONSOLIDATE THE VOTES OF POLLING CENTERS WITH
LESS THAN 50 PRECINCTS. THIS CVC SHALL BE ASSIGNED
IN THE CANVASSING CENTER, USUALLY THE MUNICIPAL
OR CITY HALL, WHERE THE COMPUTERIZED
CONSOLIDATION CENTER FOR THESE POLLING CENTERS
SHALL BE ESTABLISHED.

(b) OTHER THAN THE ABOVE MEMBERS, THE CVC BOARD
SHALL CONSIST OF A TEAM OF 2 MEMBERS CALLED THE
CONSOLIDATING TEAM FOR EVERY FIFTY (50) PRECINCTS
IN THAT PARTICULAR POLLING CENTER. THE NAMES OF
THE MEMBERS OF ALL CVC BOARDS CONSTITUTED BY
THE MUNICIPAL OR CITY BOC SHALL BE POSTED IN THE
COMELEC OFFICE AND IN THE POLLING CENTER AT
LEAST 15 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION. THE CVC BOARD
SHALL ENCODE IN DULY INSPECTED AND SEALED CPUS
THE RESULTS IN EACH PRECINCT UNDER THE
FOLLOWING PROCEDURE:

1) THE CVC BOARD WILL CONVENE AT 6:00 IN THE
EVENING OF THE ELECTION DAY AND WILL NOT BE
ALLOWED TO ADJOURN UNTIL THE COMPUTERIZED
CONSOLIDATING PROCEDURE IS COMPLETED.
UPON CONVENING, THE CVC BOARD SUPERVISOR
SHALL ALLOW OFFICIAL WATCHERS OF THE
PARTIES AND THE CANDIDATES TO INSPECT THE
SEALS IN THE CPUS THAT WILL BE USED IN
CONSOLIDATING THE RESULTS IN THAT
PARTICULAR POLLING CENTER. THE SAME
COMPUTERS SHALL HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND
SEALED ON THE DATE EXACTLY 7 DAYS BEFORE
THE ELECTIONS. THE MAIN SEAL OF THE SAID
COMPUTER SHALL COME FROM THE COMELEC.
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 6 MAJOR ACCREDITED
POLITICAL PARTIES WHO INSPECTED THE SAID
CPUS MAY ALSO PUT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SEALS
IN EACH OF THE INSPECTED CPUS.

2) AFTER THE ELECTION RETURNS ARE SIGNED,
THUMB MARKED AND SEALED BY THE BEI, THEY
SHALL DISTRIBUTE THE ELECTION RETURNS
ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONS UNDER SUB-
SECTION 31.6 THE SECOND COPY MENTIONED


3)

4)

ABOVE SHALL ALSO BE SEALED AND BROUGHT BY
THE BEI CHAIRPERSON TO THE CONSOLIDATING
CENTER AND, TOGETHER WITH THE BALLOT BOX
CONTAINING THE BALLOTS, SUBMIT THE SAME TO
THE CVC BOARD SUPERVISOR.

UPON RECEIPT, THE CVC BOARD SUPERVISOR
SHALL OPEN THE BALLOT BOX AND TAKE OUT THE
ENVELOPE CONTAINING THE SECOND COPY OF THE
ER FROM THE BEI, CLOSE THE BALLOT BOX
CONTAINING THE BALLOTS OF A PARTICULAR
PRECINCT AND PLACE THE SAID BALLOT BOX IN A
SECURED AREA WITHIN THE CANVASSING CENTER.
HE SHALL THEN ASSIGN THE ENVELOP
CONTAINING THE PARTICULAR ELECTION
RETURNS TO A CONSOLIDATING TEAM OF THE CVC
BOARD IN THE ORDER OF THEIR RECEIPT BY THE
CVC BOARD. SUCH ASSIGNMENT WILL BE
RECORDED IN THE CVC BOARD LOG BOOK BY THE
DEPUTY SUPERVISOR. THE SAID ENTRY IS OPEN TO
ALL THE WATCHERS SOQ THAT THEY MAY
IMMEDIATELY TRACE THE CONSOLIDATING TEAM
ASSIGNED FOR A PARTICULAR PRECINCT RESULT.
ONLY /E ACCREDITED WATCHER PER CANDIDATE
OR POLITICAL PARTIES SHALL BE ALLOWED FOR
EACH CONSOLIDATING TEAM.

THE TWO-MEMBER CONSOLIDATING TEAM _ IS
MAINLY TASKED WITH ENCODING THE ELECTION
RETURNS OF 50 PRECINCTS AT THE MAXIMUM IN
THE DULY INSPECTED AND SEALED CPU ASSIGNED
TO THAT PARTICULAR TEAM. ONE MEMBER
DESIGNATED AS THE READER WILL OPEN THE SEAL
OF THE ENVELOP CONTAINING THE ELECTION
RETURN AND READ ALOUD THE STATISTICAL DATA
OF THE SAID ELECTION RETURN AND THE SAME
WILL BE RECORDED IN THE CPU BY THE OTHER
MEMBER DESIGNATED AS THE ENCODER. THE
READER WILL THEN READ THE VOTES OF EACH
CANDIDATE AS STATED IN THE ELECTION RETURN
WHICH IS PLACED PROMINENTLY IN A TABLE IN
THE FULL VIEW OF THE WATCHERS AND THE SAME
SHALL BE INDIVIDUALLY RECORDED BY THE
ENCODER IN THE DESIGNATED CPU, THE SCREEN
OF WHICH SHALL ALSO BE IN FULL VIEW OF THE
WATCHERS THROUGH AN LCD SCREEN WITH THE


5)

6)

CAPACITY OF AT LEAST 1000 LUMENS PROVIDED
FOR EACH SAID CONSOLIDATION TEAM
CONSTITUTED. THE ELECTION PARAPHERNALIA
DISTRIBUTED BY THE COMMISSION SHALL
INCLUDE ONE SET OF LCD PROJECTOR WITH THE
CAPACITY OF AT LEAST 1000 LUMENS, AND A
SCREEN FOR EVERY CONSOLIDATION TEAM
CONSTITUTED. ELECTION RETURNS, THE
CONSOLIDATION OF WHICH HAS BEEN COMPLETED,
SHALL BE PLACED IN A DESIGNATED BALLOT BOX
AND LOCKED.

ANY PROTEST OR OBJECTION WILL BE RECORDED
IN THE TEAM’S LOG BOOK BY THE READER AND
WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE MUNICIPAL OR CITY
BOC WHICH SHALL THEN DECIDE ON THE SAID
OBJECTIONS AS PROVIDED UNDER THIS ACT, OR
UNDER PERTINENT LAWS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH
THIS ACT. THE ONLY OBJECTION THAT WILL BE
ALLOWED AND RESOLVED BY THE TEAM IN THIS
STAGE ARE WHEN:

I, THE READER DID NOT CORRECTLY READ
THE VOTE OR STATISTICAL DATA AS
REFLECTED IN THE ELECTION RETURN.

IL THE ENCODER DID NOT CORRECTLY
ENCODE THE VOTE OR STATISTICAL DATA
READ ALOUD BY THE READER.

ALL PROTESTS AND OBJECTIONS OTHER
THAN THE ABOVE SHALL BE FILED WITH THE
MUNICIPAL OR CITY BOC WHEN THE RESULTS.
OF THE SAID POLLING CENTER WILL BE
OFFICIALLY CANVASSED BY THE BOC
CONCERNED.

UPON THE COMPLETION OF THE ENCODING OF ALL
THE PRECINCTS ASSIGNED THEM, THE
CONSOLIDATING TEAM SHALL CONSOLIDATE THE
RESULTS IN THESE PRECINCTS BY ADDING ALL THE
VOTES OF ALL THE CANDIDATES INTO A
STATEMENT OF VOTES BY PRECINCT FOR THAT
PARTICULAR POLLING CENTER. OBJECTIONS ON
ERROR IN THE ADDITION OR COMPUTATION OF


i)

8)

THE VOTES SHALL ALSO BE ALLOWED AND
RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY.

UPON COMPLETION OF THE CONSOLIDATION, THE
CONSOLIDATING TEAM SHALL PRINT OUT ELEVEN
(11) COPIES OF THE STATEMENT OF VOTES BY
PRECINCT, SIGN AND THUMB MARK THE SAME AND
SIX (6) COPIES GIVEN TO THE WATCHERS OF THE
SIX MAJOR ACCREDITED PARTIES OR IN THEIR
ABSENCE, ANY OF THE WATCHERS PRESENT, 1
COPY EACH TO THE PPCRV AND THE CITIZEN’S
ARM ACCREDITED BY THE COMMISSION, 1 COPY TO
BE RETAINED BY THE TEAM READER, AND THE
LAST TWO COPIES EACH SEALED IN AN ENVELOPE
AND GIVEN TO THE DEPUTY SUPERVISOR OF THE
CVC BOARD AND THE OTHER FOR DELIVERY TO
THE MUNICIPAL OR CITY BOC.

AFTER PRINTING OUT THE SAID OFFICIAL
STATEMENT OF VOTES BY PRECINCT, THE TEAM
WILL THEN TRANSMIT THE SAID RESULT BY LAN
OR ANY SECURE AND APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY
TO A CPU DESIGNATED AS THE TRANSMITTING CPU
FOR THE SAID POLLING CENTER LOCATED IN THE
SAME ROOM OF THE SAID CONSOLIDATING
CENTER. THE WATCHERS MAY REQUEST THAT
THE SAME RESULTS BE COPIED IN A CD THAT IS
PROVIDED BY THE WATCHER.

THE SAID SEALED STATEMENT OF VOTES BY
PRECINCT WILL THEN BE BROUGHT TO THE
SUPERVISOR WHO SHALL PLACE THE SAME IN A
SEALED BALLOT BOX. ONCE ALL THE STATEMENT
OF VOTES BY PRECINCT FOR ALL THE PRECINCTS
IN THAT POLLING CENTER SHALL HAVE BEEN
PRINTED AND RESULTS ELECTRONICALLY
TRANSMITTED BY LAN TO THE TRANSMITTING CPU,
THE SUPERVISOR SHALL OPEN THE TRANSMITTING
CPU AND READ THE VOTES IN THE STATEMENT OF
VOTES BY PRECINCT RECORDED THEREIN ONE AT A
TIME AND IN THE ORDER OF THEIR TRANSMISSION.
SHOULD THE LAN SYSTEM BE UNAVAILABLE, THE
SUPERVISOR SHALL READ THE VOTES OF EACH
CANDIDATE FROM THE PRINTED SOV BY PRECINCT
DELIVERED BY THE CONSOLIDATING TEAM. THE
DEPUTY SUPERVISOR SHALL OPEN THE SEALED


ENVELOPE FOR THAT PARTICULAR STATEMENT OF
VOTES BY PRECINCT AND ENSURE THAT WHAT IS
BEING READ BY THE SUPERVISOR IS THE SAME AS
THAT STATED IN THE PRINTED STATEMENT OF
VOTES.

9) NO OBJECTIONS SHALL BE ENTERTAINED BY THE
SUPERVISOR IN THIS STAGE EXCEPT IN CASES
WHERE THE SUPERVISOR DID NOT CORRECTLY
READ THE VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE AS REFLECTED
IN THE ELECTRONIC STATEMENT OF VOTES AND
WHERE A DISCREPANCY EXISTS BETWEEN THE
PRINTED AND THE RESULTS ELECTRONICALLY
TRANSMITTED BY LAN.

10)SHOULD ANY DISCREPANCY EXIST BETWEEN THE
PRINTED AND THE STATEMENT OF VOTES BY
PRECINCT ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMITTED
THROUGH LAN, THAT PARTICULAR OBJECTION
SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY RESOLVED BY
CONSULTING THE ELECTION RETURNS STORED IN
THE CONSOLIDATING CENTER. THE SAID
ELECTION RETURN SHALL BE THE DECISIVE
DOCUMENT IN THIS STAGE. SHOULD THE
ELECTION RETURN, THE PRINTED RESULTS AND
THE RESULTS ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMITTED BY
LAN CONTAIN DIFFERENT RESULTS, THE CVC
BOARD WILL STILL RECORD THE RESULTS FOUND
IN THE ELECTION RETURN WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO
THE FILING BY ANY PARTY OF AN OBJECTION
BEFORE THE CANVASS COMMITTEE.

11)WHILE THE SUPERVISOR IS PUBLICLY READING
THE RESULTS, THE THIRD MEMBER OF THE CVC
BOARD SHALL ENCODE IN ONE CPU DESIGNATED AS
THE “CONSOLIDATING CPU” THE TOTAL NUMBER
OF VOTES FOR A PARTICULAR CANDIDATE IN THE
STATEMENT OF VOTES BY PRECINCT BEING READ
BY THE SUPERVISOR ADDING THEIR VOTES AND
GETTING THE SUM TOTAL OF VOTES OF EACH
CANDIDATE. OBJECTIONS AS TO THE ACCURACY OF
THE ADDITION OR CONSOLIDATION OF VOTES
SHALL BE ENTERTAINED IN THIS STAGE AND
IMMEDIATELY RESOLVED BY THE CVC BOARD.


12)UPON THE COMPLETION OF THE READING OF ALL
THE STATEMENTS OF VOTES BY PRECINCT IN THAT
POLLING CENTER, THE SUPERVISOR SHALL COPY
ALL THE STATEMENT OF VOTES SENT BY LAN TO
THE TRANSMISSION UNIT IN THIRTY (30) READ
ONLY CDS AND PRINT OUT 30 COPIES OF THE SAME.
THE COMMISSION SHALL INCLUDE IN THE
ELECTION PARAPHERNALIA 30 COPIES OF THE
STATEMENT OF VOTES BY PRECINCT FOR A
PARTICULAR POLLING CENTER, EACH DEEMED AN
ACCOUNTABLE FORM, WITH SERIAL NUMBERS AND
OTHER MARKS FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES.
THE THREE MEMBERS OF THE CVC BOARD SHALL
SIGN AND THUMB MARK THE PRINTED COPIES,
PLACE THE SAME IN THE ENVELOPE TOGETHER
WITH THE CD AND TRANSMIT THE SAME TO THE
ADDRESSEES LISTED UNDER THIS ACT.

13)THE THIRD MEMBER SHALL ALSO CONSOLIDATE,
BY ADDITION, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTES FOR
EACH CANDIDATE IN THE STATEMENT OF VOTES BY
PRECINCT IN THAT POLLING CENTER AND CREATE
A STATEMENT OF VOTES BY SOV FOR THE ENTIRE
POLLING CENTER. ONCE CONSOLIDATED, THE
THIRD MEMBER SHALL PRINT OUT 30 COPIES OF
THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF VOTES OF SOV
OF THE POLLING CENTER WHICH SHALL THEN BE
SIGNED AND THUMB MARKED BY THE THREE
MEMBERS OF THE CVC BOARD AND ALSO PLACED
IN THE ENVELOPE MENTIONED ABOVE.

14)THE THIRD MEMBER SHALL IMMEDIATELY
TRANSMIT BY LAN THE SAID CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF VOTES BY SOV TO THE
TRANSMITTING CPU AND ALSO PRINT OUT TWO
COPIES OF THE SAID CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT
OF VOTES, SIGN AND THUMB MARK THE SAME, AND
PLACE IT IN AN ENVELOPE. THE ENVELOPES WILL
BE SEALED AND HANDED TO THE SUPERVISOR AND
THE DEPUTY SUPERVISOR OF THE BOARD
RESPECTIVELY.

15)THE SUPERVISOR SHALL THEN READ THE
CONSOLIDATED VOTES OF EACH CANDIDATE IN
THAT PARTICULAR POLLING CENTER AS
CONTAINED IN THE STATEMENT OF VOTES


TRANSMITTED BY LAN AND PROJECTED IN THE
LCD SCREEN WHILE THE DEPUTY SUPERVISOR
SHALL OPEN THE SEALED ENVELOP CONTAINING
THE SAME AND ENSURE THAT WHAT IS BEING
READ BY THE SUPERVISOR IS THE SAME AS THAT
CONTAINED IN THE PRINTED COPY.

16)AFTER THE COMPLETION OF ALL THE ABOVE
PROCEDURE, THE SUPERVISOR WILL NOW SHOW
TO THE WATCHERS, THROUGH AN LCD SCREEN,
THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF VOTES BY SOV
FOR THAT PARTICULAR POLLING CENTER THAT
WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO THE BOC. THE
TRANSMITTED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF
VOTES BY SOV SHALL BE THE OFFICIAL BASIS USED
BY THE BOC FOR CANVASSING ALL THE VOTES IN
THAT POLLING CENTER. ONCE THE WATCHERS ARE
GIVEN A REASONABLE TIME TO VIEW WHAT WILL
BE TRANSMITTED, THE SUPERVISOR SHALL
ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMIT THE CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF VOTES BY SOV AND THE
STATEMENT OF VOTES BY PRECINCT TO THE CITY
OR MUNICIPAL BOC CHAIRPERSON, THE
COMMISSION ACCREDITED CITIZENS ARM FOR
QUICK COUNT AND, SIMULTANEOUSLY UPLOAD
THE SAME TO DESIGNATED SECURED WEBSITE FOR
THAT PURPOSE.

17)AFTER THE TRANSMISSION, THE SUPERVISOR
SHALL RECORD THE TRANSMITTED STATEMENT OF
VOTES BY SOV OF THE POLLING CENTER INTO 30
READ ONLY CDS WHICH WILL BE PLACED IN AN
ENVELOPE TOGETHER WITH 30 PRINTED COPIES OF
THE STATEMENT OF VOTES BY SOV DULY SIGNED
AND THUMB MARKED BY THE SUPERVISOR, THE
DEPUTY SUPERVISOR AND THE DESIGNATED
WATCHERS OF THE SIX MAJOR ACCREDITED
PARTIES. THE COMMISSION SHALL INCLUDE IN
THE ELECTION PARAPHERNALIA 30 COPIES OF THE
STATEMENT OF VOTES BY POLLING CENTER, EACH
DEEMED AN ACCOUNTABLE FORM, WITH SERIAL
NUMBERS AND OTHER MARKS FOR
IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES. THE ENVELOPE
INTENDED FOR THE MUNICIPAL OR CITY BOC WILL
BE SEALED AND PLACED IN A BALLOT BOX
DESIGNATED AS TRANSMISSION BALLOT BOX AND


IMMEDIATELY DELIVERED TO THE BOC. THE REST
WILL BE RESERVED FOR THE ADDRESSEES LISTED
UNDER THIS ACT.

18)THE DATA CONTAINED IN THE DESIGNATED
WEBSITE SHALL OT BE THE BASIS FOR
CANVASSING, BUT ARE MERELY FOR INFORMATION
PURPOSES AND MAY BE USED AS A MEANS TO
COUNTER CHECK THE ACCURACY OF THE RESULTS
BEING OFFICIALLY CANVASSED. THE DOCUMENT
THAT SHALL BE OFFICIALLY USED FOR
CANVASSING SHALL BE THE RESULTS
ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMITTED TO THE BOC
BACKED UP BY THE DIGITALLY STORED DATA IN
THE CD AND THE PRINTED STATEMENT OF VOTES
BY SOV OF THE POLLING CENTER.

19)IF THERE IS AN OBJECTION OR PROTEST ON A
PARTICULAR STATEMENT OF VOTES BY PRECINCT,
THE DULY PRINTED AND DIGITALLY STORED
STATEMENT OF VOTES DULY SIGNED BY THE
SUPERVISOR, DEPUTY SUPERVISOR AND WATCHERS
SHALL BE CONSULTED. NO RESORT TO THE
ELECTION RETURNS SHALL BE ALLOWED UNLESS
THE ABOVE ARE FIRST RESORTED TO.

(8) CANVASSING BY PROVINCIAL CITY, DISTRICT, AND MUNICIPAL
BOARD OF CANVASSERS—THE PROCEDURE IN THE MUNICIPAL
OR CITY CANVASSING SHALL BE THE IMMEDIATE CANVASSING
OF ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMITTED RESULTS AS FOLLOWS:

(a) THE BOARD OF CANVASSERS SHALL CONVENE AT 7:00 PM
OF THE DAY OF THE ELECTION. UPON CONVENING, THE
BOC SHALL FORMALLY INSPECT THE CPUS THAT WILL
BE USED IN THE CANVASSING.

1) THE MUNICIPAL OR CITY BOC SHALL CREATE ONE
SUB CANVASSING COMMITTEE UNDER IT TO AID
THE BOARD IN COUNTER CHECKING THE RESULTS
OF THE ELECTION IN POLLING CENTERS WITHIN
THE JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD. IT SHALL BE
COMPOSED OF 3 MEMBERS WITH THE FOLLOWING
FUNCTIONS: ONE MEMBER DESIGNATED AS THE CD
VALIDATOR, WHO WILL COMPARE THE RESULTS
BEING CANVASSED WITH THE RESULTS IN THE CD;
AND 1 MEMBER, DESIGNATED AS THE PRINTED


2)

3)

4)

RESULT VALIDATOR, WHO WILL COMPARE THE
RESULTS BEING CANVASSED WITH THE PRINTED
STATEMENT OF VOTES BY SOV OF THE POLLING
CENTER; AND 1 MEMBER, AS RECORDER, WHO WILL
RECORD AND CONSOLIDATE THE VOTES BEING
CANVASSED.

UPON RECEIPT OF THE TRANSMISSION BALLOT BOX
CONTAINING THE STATEMENT OF VOTES BY SOV OF
A PARTICULAR POLLING CENTER, AND AFTER
VERIFYING THAT THE SAID BALLOT BOX HAS NOT
BEEN TAMPERED WITH, THE CHAIR OF THE BOC
SHALL REFER THE SAID BALLOT BOX TO THE SUB
CANVASSING COMMITTEE. THE VERIFICATION OF
THE BOC CHAIRPERSON OF THE INTEGRITY OF THE
TRANSMISSION BALLOT BOX, AND THE
ASSIGNMENT TO THE SUB CANVASSING
COMMITTEE SHALL BE DULY RECORDED BY THE
VICE-CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOC. NO OBJECTIONS
SHALL BE ENTERTAINED AT THIS STAGE EXCEPT
THOSE RELATED TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE
TRANSMISSION BALLOT BOX.

AN LCD PROJECTOR WITH A CAPACITY OF AT
LEAST 1000 LUMENS AND A SCREEN SUFFICIENTLY
LARGE SO AS TO ENABLE THE WATCHERS TO VIEW
THE RESULTS BEING CANVASSED WILL THEN BE
SET UP CONNECTED TO ONE CPU LOCATED IN THE
CANVASSING CENTER AND DESIGNATED AS
RECEIPT AND TRANSMISSION CPU.

THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOC SHALL BE IN
CHARGE OF READING THE RESULTS CONTAINED IN
THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE POLLING CENTER
TO THE BOC, THE VICE CHAIRPERSON SHALL BE IN
CHARGE OF THE SUB CANVASSING COMMITTEE
ENSURING THAT WHAT IS BEING READ BY THE
CHAIRPERSON IS THE CORRECT REFLECTION OF
THE DATA OR RESULTS IN THE CD AND THE
PRINTED STATEMENT OF VOTES BY SOV OF THE
POLLING CENTER, WHILE THE THIRD MEMBER
SHALL BE IN CHARGE OF ENCODING THE
CANVASSED RESULTS IN ONE CPU ALSO LOCATED
IN THE CANVASSING CENTER DESIGNATED AS THE
“CANVASS CPU” AND CONSOLIDATING THE TOTAL


5)

6)

i)

VOTES FROM ALL THE POLLING CENTERS
CANVASSED BY THE BOC.

THE CHAIRMAN WILL THEN OPEN, THROUGH THE
RECEIPT AND TRANSMISSION CPU, THE
TRANSMITTED RESULTS FROM POLLING CENTERS
UNDER THE BOC, ONE AT A TIME, IN THE ORDER OF
THEIR TRANSMISSION AND READ THE
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS FOR EACH AND EVERY
CANDIDATE GIVING SUFFICIENT TIME FOR
POSSIBLE OBJECTIONS OR COMMENTS EITHER
FROM THE WATCHERS OR THE SUB CANVASSING
COMMITTEE. THE TRANSMITTED RESULTS SHALL
BE THE OFFICIAL BASIS OF THE CANVASS.

DURING THE READING, AN OBJECTION MAY BE
RAISED ON ANY DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE
RESULTS IN THE TRANSMISSION BEING READ BY
THE CHAIRPERSON AND, EITHER THE CD OR THE
PRINTED STATEMENT OF VOTES BY SOV BEING
CHECKED BY THE SUB CANVASSING COMMITTEE.
IN CASE OF DISCREPANCY IN THE RESULTS, THE
BOC WILL USE PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE TO
SWIFTLY RESOLVE THE OBJECTION WHICH MEANS
THAT THE TRANSMISSION RESULTS IS THE BINDING
RESULT AND CAN ONLY BE OVERTURNED BY THE
COMMON RESULTS IN BOTH THE CD AND THE
PRINTED SOV. IN CASE ALL THREE SOURCES HAVE
DIFFERENT RESULTS, THE QUESTIONED RESULT
FOR A PARTICULAR CANDIDATE SHALL BE
TEMPORARILY SET ASIDE OR, SHOULD THE ENTIRE
SOV CONTAIN DISCREPANCIES, THE SAID SOV
SHALL BE TEMPORARILY SET ASIDE TO BE
RESOLVED UPON THE PROPER FILING OF
OBJECTION AS OUTLINED IN BATAS PAMBANSA
BLG. 881 AS AMENDED. THE BOC SHALL THEN
CONTINUE CANVASSING THOSE SOV PER POLLING
CENTER THAT ARE NOT OBJECTED TO.

OBJECTIONS ON THE RESULTS OF A PARTICULAR
PRECINCT MAY ALSO BE FILED IN CASES WHERE
THE ELECTION RETURN OF THAT PARTICULAR
PRECINCT IS NOT THE SAME AS THE RESULT OF
THAT PRECINCT IN THE STATEMENT OF VOTES BY
PRECINCT ISSUED BY THE CVC BOARD OF
PARTICULAR POLLING CENTER. IN THIS CASE, THE


BOARD SHALL TEMPORARILY SET ASIDE THE
CANVASSING OF THAT PARTICULAR PRECINCT AND
ORDER THE CVC BOARD OF THAT PARTICULAR
PRECINCT TO IMMEDIATELY CONVENE RIGHT
THERE THE CANVASSING CENTER AND MAKE
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION ON THE OBJECTION
AND THE ELECTION RETURNS CONCERNED
CONSULTING THE ELECTION RETURNS IN THE
CUSTODY OF THE CANVASSING COMMITTEE, THE
STATEMENT OF VOTES BY PRECINCT IN THE CD,
AND THE PRINTED STATEMENT OF VOTES BY
PRECINCT.

8) OTHER OBJECTIONS NOT RELATED TO THE ABOVE
“MANIFEST ERRORS” SHALL BE FOLLOW THE
PROCEDURE OUTLINED FOR THAT PARTICULAR
OBJEC IN IN BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 881 AS
AMENDED.

9) ONCE ALL THE POLLING CENTERS IN THE CITY OR
MUNICIPALITY ARE CANVASSED THE THIRD
MEMBER IN CHARGE OF CONSOLIDATING THE
RESULTS IN ALL THE POLLING CENTERS SHALL
CONSOLIDATE ALL THE RESULTS FOR ALL THE
CANDIDATES IN THE BOC STATEMENT OF VOTES BY
POLLING CENTERS AND DRAFT THE CERTIFICATE
OF CANVASS FOR THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY. THE
BOC STATEMENT OF VOTES BY POLLING CENTERS
AND THE DRAFT CERTIFICATE OF CANVASS SHALL
BE TRANSMITTED BY LAN FROM THE CANVASSING
UNIT UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE THIRD MEMBER
TO THE RECEIPT AND TRANSMISSION UNIT UNDER
THE CONTROL OF THE CHAIRPERSON. THE SAID
RESULTS SHALL ALSO BE SHOWN IN THE LCD
SCRE THE CHAIRPERSON SHALL THEN CANVASS
THE RESULTS IN THE STATEMENT OF VOTES BY
POLLING CENTERS BY READING THE TOTAL
NUMBER OF VOTES OF EACH CANDIDATE IN THE
CERTIFICATE OF CANVASS.

10)THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOC SHALL THEN
TRANSMIT, IN FULL VIEW OF THE WATCHERS, THE
RESULTS IN THE STATEMENT OF VOTES BY
POLLING CENTERS AND THE CERTIFICATE OF
CANVASS FOR THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY TO THE


DISTRICT BOC, IF ANY, THE PROVINCIAL BOC, THE
NATIONAL BOC, AND THE DESIGNATED WEBSITE.

11)THE SAID STATEMENT OF VOTES BY POLLING
CENTERS SHALL BE COPIED IN 30 READ ONLY CDS
AND AT THE SAME TIME PRINTED IN 30 COPIES,
SIGNED AND THUMB MARKED BY ALL THE
MEMBERS OF THE BOC AND THE WATCHERS FROM
THE SIX MAJOR ACCREDITED PARTIES, PLACED IN
AN ENVELOPE DULY SIGNED AND SEALED AND
SUBMIT THE SAID ENVELOP TO THE BOC
CHAIRPERSON TO BE SENT TO OR CLAIMED BY THE
30 ADDRESSEES LISTED UNDER THIS ACT. ONE
COPY OF THE PRINTED SOV BY POLLING CENTERS
AND ITS CORRESPONDING CD SHALL BE SEALED IN
AN ENVELOPE PLACED IN A_ BALLOT BOX
DESIGNATED AS THE CANVASS BALLOT BOX. IT
SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY BE DELIVERED TO THE
DISTRICT BOC, IF ANY, OR THE PROVINCIAL BOC.

12)THE NATIONAL, PROVINCIAL AND DISTRICT BOCS
SHALL FOLLOW THE SAME PROCEDURE IN THE
CANVASS OF VOTES.

(b) THE PROVISIONS OF RA 8436 AS AMENDED BY RA 9369 IN
RELATION TO THE CANVASSING OF VOTES OF THE
NATIONAL OFFICIALS INCLUDING THE PARTY LIST
REPRESENTATIVES AND THE LOCAL OFFICIALS
INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, BY THE NATIONAL, PROVINCIAL,
AND DISTRICT BOARD OF SHALL BE APPLIED AS A
GENERAL RULE PROVIDED THEY ARE NOT
INCONSISTENT WITH THIS ACT.

(9) COMMUNICATION CHANNELS FOR ELECTRONIC
TRANSMISSIONS. ALL ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSIONS OF THE
ELECTION RETURNS, CERTIFICATES OF CANVASS AND OTHER
RELATED DOCUMENTS SHALL UTILIZE SECURE TRANSMISSION
CHANNELS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE DOST AND THE
NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION TO ENSURE
AUTHENTICATION AND INTEGRITY OF TRANSMISSION.

THE COMMISSION IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO PROCURE THE
NECESSARY EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES AND SERVICES FOR
PUTTING UP THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION SYSTEM.


SEC. 3. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this
Act shall be charged against the 2021 appropriations for the Commission on Elections
Should this not suffice, the Commission on Elections shall submit to Congress a
request for Supplemental Budget recommending the necessary amount in order to
implement this Act in the 2025 elections.

SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, resolutions, revenue
regulations, ordinances or circulars inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly or declared null and void and inoperative.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,