TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE} 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES } 
First Regular Session 
}
25 J!JL -7 A11 :11
SEN AT 
S.B. No.
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR VICENTE C. SOTTO III
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CONDUCT OF HYBRID NATIONAL, LOCAL AND 
ARMM ELECTIONS, THROUGH MANUAL VOTING AND COUNTING AT THE 
PRECINCT LEVEL, AND AUTOMATED TRANSMISSION AND CANVASSING,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 2025 national and local elections were generally transparent, efficient 
and successful. However, let us not forget the 2016 election that was plague with 
numerous unresolved issues and irregularities.
As what I have revealed during my privilege speech back in March 6, 2018, 
in the 2016 elections, a series of early transmissions of votes can be seen from 
the logs of the COMELEC servers. These transmissions happened on May 8, 
2016 and in the very early morning of May 9, 2016, prior to the official start of 
the elections. The transmissions were done to different municipal and provincial 
board of canvassers in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. There is no way that these 
are only testing transmissions for the reason that the testing period already
ended on April 23, 2016.
According to the NAMFREL Report for the 2016 National and Local 
elections, the integrity of our Automated Election System was undermined. This 
is due to an intrusion of an unauthorized transparency queue server while the 
system is actively receiving data.
This bill aims to address the issues of a fully automated election system. 
In having a manual voting and counting, the public will have an unimpeded view 
of the real time input of votes. Also, the total number of valid ballots used as well


as the results will reflect both in a manual and digital election returns. In case 
of a discrepancy between the manual and digital election returns, the former 
shall prevail. In addition, the digital election return will be projected while the 
entries are being recorded in real time for the benefit of the viewing public. In 
this way, the voters will be able to ascertain the accuracy between the actual 
casted votes and those being transmitted electronically.
This mode will strengthen the integrity of the elections and forego with the 
issues like early and inaccurate transmission of votes. Hence, the passage of this 
bill is earnestly sought.
VICENTE C. BOTTO III


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES } 
First Regular Session 
}
25
-7 All :11
SENATE
S.B. No. 197
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR VICENTE C. SOTTO III
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CONDUCT OF HYBRID NATIONAL, LOCAL AND 
ARMM ELECTIONS, THROUGH MANUAL VOTING AND COUNTING AT 
THE PRECINCT LEVEL, AND AUTOMATED TRANSMISSION AND 
CANVASSING, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “The Hybrid Election
2 
Act”.
3 
SECTION 2. Coverage. - The coverage of the provisions of this Act shall be
4 
applicable to the conduct of the election on May 2028 and all national and
5 
local elections thereafter.
6 
SECTION 3. Filing of Certificates of Candidacy. - The certificate of
7 
candidacy of any person running for the office of President, Vice-President,
8 
Senator, member of the House of Representatives, party-list representatives
9 
or any elective provincial, city or municipal official shall be filed in five (5)
10 
legible copies with the offices of the Commission specified hereunder not later
11 
than the day before the date legally fixed for the beginning of his campaign
12 
period, to wit;
13 
(1) For President, Vice-President, Senators and party-list representatives 90
14 
days before the day of elections; and
15 
(2) For members of the House of Representatives, and elective provincial, city,
16 
and municipal officials 45 days before the day of elections.


1 
(a) The certificate of candidacy for President, Vice-President, Senators and
2 
party-list representatives shall be filed with the main office of the
3 
Commission in Manila;
4 
(b) The certificate of candidacy for the members of the House of
5 
Representatives shall be filed with the provincial election supervisor of
6 
the province concerned. Those for legislative districts in the National
7 
Capital Region shall be filed with the regional election director of said
8 
region and those for legislative districts in cities outside the National
9 
Capital Region which comprise one or more legislative districts shall be
10 
filed with the city election registrar concerned;
11 
(c) The certificate of candidacy for provincial offices shall be filed with the
12 
provincial supervisor concerned; and
13 
(d) The certificate of candidacy for city or municipal offices shall be filed
14 
with the city or municipal election officer concerned.
15 
Whenever practicable, the names of registered candidates for local positions
16 
shall be printed in the election returns: Provided that, if a candidate has been
17 
disqualified or declared a nuisance candidate, it shall be the duty of the
18 
Commission to instruct without delay the appropriate election officials to
19 
delete the name of said candidate as printed in the election return.
20 
The candidate shall file the certificate of candidacy personally or by his duly
21 
authorized representative. No certificate of candidacy shall be filed or accepted
22 
by mail, telegram or facsimile.
23 
SECTION 4. Official Ballots. -
24 
(a) Ballots for national and local elections, regular or special, plebiscites and
25 
referenda, shall be of uniform size and shall be prescribed by the
26 
Commission, taking into consideration environmental considerations, with
27 
a reasonable minimum paper size and using only recycled paper. They
28 
shall be printed in black ink on security paper with distinctive, clear and
29 
legible watermarks that will readily distinguish it from ordinary paper.
30 
Each ballot shall be in the shape of a strip with stub and detachable
31 
coupon containing the serial number both on the upper and lower
32 
detachable coupon of the ballot, and a space for the thumbmark of the
33 
voter on the detachable coupon. It shall bear at the top of the middle
34 
portion thereof the coat-of-arms of the Republic of the Philippines, the
35 
word "Official Ballot," the name of the city or the municipality and province
36 
in which the election is to be held, the date of the election, and the following


1 
instruction in English: "Fill out this ballot secretly inside the voting booth.
2 
Do not put any distinct mark on any part of this ballot."
3 
(b) The official ballot shall be serially numbered and shall be delivered to and
4 
correspond to specific precincts or cluster or precincts, as the case may
5 
be, which shall have corresponding and exclusive ballot identification
6 
numbers separate from the serial number of the individual ballots. For
7 
purposes of transparency, the ballot ID and the serial number of the ballots
8 
corresponding to each precinct or cluster or precincts, as the case may be,
9 
shall be available for viewing by interested parties on the Commission’s
10 
official website at least five (5) days before the elections.
11 
(c) A digital image of a sample official ballot may be available for viewing and
12 
downloading from the Commission’s website, minus the security features
13 
and actual bar codes for authentication.
14 
(d) The official ballot shall also contain the names of all the offices to be voted
15 
upon in the election, allowing opposite the name of each office, sufficient
16 
space of spaces with horizontal lines where the voter may write the name
17 
or names of the individual candidates being voted upon, as provided in the
18 
list of candidates and the corresponding elective positions, as pasted inside
19 
the inner flap of the ballot secrecy folder; Provided, that: any defacement,
20 
vandalism, marking or writing on said list inside the ballot secrecy folder,
21 
which shall in an)rway suggest to the voter the candidate or candidates to
22 
be voted upon, or shall deprive said voter of his right to vote the candidates
23 
that he/she chooses to vote, shall constitute an election offense, as
24 
provided in this Act.
25 
(e) There shall not be anything printed or written on the back of the ballot
26 
except as provided in Section [24] 5 of this Act.
27 
(f) Official ballot for cities and municipalities where Arabic is of general use
28 
shall have each of the titles of the offices to be voted for printed in Arabic
29 
in addition to and immediately below the English title.
30 
(g) The foregoing provisions notwithstanding, the Commission is hereby
31 
authorized to prescribe a different form of official ballot on the same
32 
watermarked security paper to facilitate voting by illiterate and especially
33 
abled voters only. The Commission should use or adopt the latest
34 
technological and electronic devices in connection therewith, as to enable
35 
such illiterate or especially abled voter to confirm that the accompanying
36 
person truly adhered to the voter’s choice of candidates, as provided under
37 
Section 52(i) of the Omnibus Election Code.


1 
SECTION 5. Printing of Official Ballots. - The printing of official ballots
2 
shall be exclusively done by the National Printing Office and shall not be
3 
contracted out or outsourced to any private or public person, entity, or
4 
agency, despite claims of better or higher capacity to do so, not even under a
5 
valid accreditation pursuant to any law, rules or regulation.
6 
A violation of this Section shall constitute a prima facie evidence of electoral
7 
sabotage and a conspiracy to commit massive electoral fraud.
8 
SECTION 6. Authentication of Ballot and. Signature of Chairman and
9 
Watchers at the Back of Every Ballot. - In every case before delivering an
10 
official ballot to the voter, the chairman of the board of election inspectors, in
11 
the presence of the poll watchers and the voter, shall scan the ballot under
12 
an official bar code scanner to authenticate the same. Thereafter, the
13 
chairman and the watchers for the dominant majority party and dominant
14 
minority party shall affix their signatures at the back thereof. Failure to
15 
authenticate shall constitute an election offense punishable under Section
16 
263 and 264 of the Omnibus Election Code and shall be noted in the minutes
17 
of the board of election inspectors. The same manner of authentication of the
18 
ballots under the bar code scanner shall likewise be observed before reading
19 
the ballot during the counting of votes after the closing of the polls.
20 
SECTION 7. Manner of Counting votes.- In addition to the requirement in
21 
the fourth paragraph of Section 12 of the Republic Act No. 6646 and Section
22 
210 of the Omnibus Election Code, in reading the official ballots during the
23 
counting, the chairman, the poll clerk and the third member shall position
24 
themselves in a manner that will provide the watchers and the public, an
25 
unimpeded view of the ballot being read by the chairman, the election return,
26 
and the tally board being simultaneously accomplished by the poll clerk and
27 
the third member respectively, without touching any of these election
28 
documents. The table shall be cleared of all unnecessary writing
29 
paraphernalia. Any violation of this requirement shall constitute an election
30 
offense punishable under Section 263 and 264 the Omnibus Election Code.
31 
Before the start of the counting, the chairman shall first ascertain whether
32 
the back of every ballot contains the signatures of the chairman and watchers
33 
as required by Section 5 hereof. Any ballot without the required signatures
34 
shall be rejected.
35 
a. The chairman shall first read the votes for national positions and party
36 
list choices, and the necessary election returns shall be filled out for
37 
such positions only, thereby reducing the time for counting, as well as
38 
the size of paper to be utilized for the election returns. Thereafter, the
39 
members of the Board shall terminate the counting and prepare the


election returns as they await distribution to the authorized watchers, 
as provided under Section 8 hereof.
3 
b. After the reading of the votes for the national positions and the party
4 
list, the chairman shall then proceed with the reading of the votes for
5 
the local positions and the corresponding election return shall be filled
6 
out and prepared and distributed as provided in Section 8 hereof.
7 
Any violation of this Section, or any of its pertinent portions, shall constitute
8 
an election offense and shall be penalized in accordance with Batas Pambansa
9 
Big. 881.
10 
SECTION 8. Counting of Votes to be Public. - As soon as the voting is
11 
finished, the board of election inspectors shall publicly count in the polling
12 
place the votes cast and ascertain the results. The board may rearrange the
13 
physical set up of the polling place for the counting or perform any other
14 
activity with respect to the transition from vote counting. However, it may do
15 
so only in the presence of the watchers and within close view of the public. At
16 
all times, the ballot boxes and all election documents and paraphernalia shall
17 
be within close view of the watchers and the public.
18 
The board of election inspectors shall not adjourn or postpone or delay the
19 
counting until it has been fully completed, unless otherwise ordered by the
20 
Commission.
21 
The Commission, in the interest of free, orderly, and honest election, may
22 
authorize the board of election inspectors to count the votes and to
23 
accomplish the election return and other forms prescribed under the code in
24 
any other place within a public building in the same municipality or city on
25 
account of imminent danger of widespread violence or similar causes of
26 
comparable magnitude: Provided, That the transfer shall been recommended
27 
in writing by the board of election inspectors by unanimous vote and endorsed
28 
in writing by the majority of watchers present: Provided, further, that the said
29 
public building shall not be located within the perimeter of or inside a military
30 
or police camp, reservation, headquarters, detachment or field office nor
31 
within the premises of a prison or detention bureau or any law enforcement
32 
or investigation agency.
33 
Any violation of this section, or any of its pertinent portions, shall constitute
34 
an election offense and shall be penalized in accordance with Batas Pambansa
35 
Big. 881.
36 
SECTION 9. Election Returns. - The board of election inspectors shall
37 
prepare the election returns simultaneously with the counting of votes in the


1 
polling places as prescribe in Section 210 OF Batas Pambansa Big. 881. The
2 
recording of vote shall be made as prescribed in the said section. The entry of
3 
votes in words and figures for each candidate shall be closed with the
4 
signature and the clear imprint of the thumbmark of the right hand of all the
5 
members, likewise to be affixed in full view of the public, immediately after
6 
the last vote recorded or immediately after the name of the candidate who did
7 
not receive any vote.
8 
The returns shall also show the date of the election, the polling place, the
9 
barangay and the city or municipality in which it was held, the total number
10 
of ballots found in the compartment for valid ballots, the total number of valid
11 
ballots withdrawn from the compartment for spoiled ballots which were
12 
erroneously placed therein, the total number of excess ballots, the total
13 
number of marked or void ballots, and the total numbers of votes obtained by
14 
each candidate. These pieces of information that shall be written in words and
15 
in figures and, at the end thereof, the board of election inspectors shall certify
16 
that the contents are correct. The returns for national positions and party list
17 
shall be accomplished in a single sheet of paper, in such cases, additional
18 
sheets may be used which shall be prepared in the same manner as the first
19 
sheet and likewise certified by the board of election inspectors.
20 
The Commission shall take steps so that the entries on the first copy of the
21 
election returns are clearly reproduced on the second, third, fourth, fifth, and
22 
sixth copies thereof, and for that purpose, the Commission shall use a special
23 
kind of paper.
24 
SECTION 10. Digital Election ReUims. - Simultaneous to the counting of
25 
the votes and the filling out of the election returns, there shall be an
26 
independent technician who shall enter the votes, as they are counted, into a
27 
digital spread sheet, which shall serve as the Digital Election Return, in a
28 
laptop provided for the purpose, which spread sheet shall also be projected
29 
on a screen while the entries are recorded in real time for the watchers to
30 
validate and the public to see.
31 
The Digital Election Return shall be equipped with such encryption and
32 
programs to ensure that the technician, or any person, cannot make
33 
alterations in any of the entries therein, or the results of the counting, except
34 
in case of discrepancy with the manual election return as provided below.
35 
Likewise, the laptop shall be configured to confine its operation only for this
36 
purpose and to transmit the results of the counting to a secure server as
37 
hereinafter prescribed.
38 
Immediately upon the accomplishment of the manual election return for
39 
national positions, the poll clerk shall announce the posting of the second


1 
copy of the election return on a wall with sufficient lighting within the
2 
premises of the polling place or counting center. He shall then proceed to do
3 
the same in the presence of the other members of the Board, the watchers
4 
and those present in the polling place or counting center. Without delay and,
5 
when feasible, he shall secure an image of the election return using a secured
6 
data capturing device and immediately thereafter, while in the premises of the
7 
polling place or counting center, directly print thirty (30) copies of the manual
8 
election return.
9 
Likewise, the independent technician, without turning off the projected
10 
results on the screen, shall print out one copy of the digital election return as
11 
filled out, and the members of the board and the poll watchers shall be asked
12 
to authenticate the same by comparing the results as printed with the second
13 
copy of the manual election return as posted and announced. Should the
14 
results of the digital election return be found to be the same as that of the
15 
manual, the members of the board and the poll watchers shall affix their
16 
signatures and thumb prints in the spaces provided and the same shall be
17 
placed in the compartment for valid ballots in the ballot box.
18 
Should there be any discrepancy between the digital and the manual election
19 
returns, the results in the manual election return shall prevail. However, for
20 
purposes of electronic transmission, the chairman, the poll clerk and the third
21 
member shall encode their digital signatures into the laptop to allow the
22 
necessary corrections in the digital election return to conform to the results
23 
as reflected in the manual election return. The erroneous digital return shall
24 
be tom by half lengthwise and placed inside the compartment for spoiled
25 
ballots inside the ballot box.
26 
Thereafter, the technician shall print another copy of the digital election
27 
return and shall allow the board and the poll watchers to scrutinize and
28 
authenticate the same as prescribed above. When there is no more
29 
discrepancy in the results, the board and the poll watchers shall affix their
30 
signatures and thumb prints, and the correct digital election return shall be
31 
placed in the compartment for valid ballots inside the ballot box.
32 
Finally, the board shall again enter their respective digital signatures to write-
33 
protect the memory card containing the digital election return and the image
34 
of the manual election return, and authorize the electronic transmission of
35 
the results to the various secure servers as prescribed herein.
36 
Once the printouts for the image of the manual election return have been
37 
produced, the poll clerk shall call the other members of the board to
38 
authenticate each print copy by closely comparing the same with the election
39 
return posted on the wall in the presence of the watchers and within view of


1 
the public. If the board finds each print a faithful reproduction of the election
2 
return, all members thereof shall annotate and sign a certification to that
3 
effect on the bottom front of the print.
4 
Each certified printed copy shall be placed in an envelope and distributed as
5 
herein provided. Designated recipients of the certified print copies may receive
6 
their copies at the polling place or counting center.
7 
Immediately upon the accomplishment of the election returns for local
8 
position, the second copy of the same shall be posted on a wall with sufficient
9 
lighting within the premises of the polling place.
10 
The digital election return shall be printed out and authenticated as
11 
prescribed above for the national positions.
12 
The other copies of election return for both national and local position shall
13 
be sealed in the presence of the watchers and the public, and placed in the
14 
proper envelope, which shall likewise be sealed and distributed as herein
15 
provided.
16 
Any election return with a separately printed serial number or which bears a
17 
different serial number from that assigned to the particular polling place
18 
concerned shall not be canvassed and shall be declared as spurious and fake,
19 
and shall be a ground for a pre-proclamation controversy. This is to be
20 
determined by the board of canvassers prior to its canvassing on the basis of
21 
the certification of the provincial, city or municipal treasurer as to the serial
22 
number of the election return assigned to said voting precinct, unless the
23 
Commission shall order in writing for its canvassing, stating the reason for
24 
the variance in serial numbers.
25 
If the signatures and/or thumbmarks of the members of the board of election
26 
inspectors or some of them as required in this provision are missing in the
27 
election returns, the board of canvassers may summon the members of the
28 
board of election inspectors concerned to complete the returns.
29 
The citizen's arm is mandated to present for perusal its copy of the election
30 
return to the board of election canvassers upon the request of any interested
31 
candidate.
32 
Any violation of this election or its pertinent portion, shall constitute an
33 
election offense and shall be penalized in accordance with Batas Pambansa
34 
Big. 881
35 
SECTION 11. Number of Copies of Election Returns and their
36 
DistrUmUon. - The board of election inspectors shall prepare in handwriting
8


1 
the election returns in their respective polling place, in the number of copies
2 
herein provided and, in the form, to be prescribed and provided by the
3 
Commission.
4 
The chairman of the board of election inspectors shall distribute the copies of
5 
election returns as follows;
6 
(a) In the election of president, vice-president, senators and members of the
7 
House of Representatives including the party-list representatives:
8 
(1) The digital election return shall be electronically transmitted to the
9 
secure servers and the first copy of the manual election return, as
10 
digitally captured and printed, shall be delivered to city or municipal
11 
board of canvassers immediately after the closing of the polls;
12 
(2) The second copy to be posted on a wall within the premises of the polling
13 
place;
14 
(3) The third copy, to the congress, directed to the President of the Senate;
15 
(4) The fourth copy, to the Commission;
16 
(5) The fifth copy, to the dominant majority party as determined by the
17 
Commission in accordance with law;
18 
(6) The sixth copy, to the dominant minority party as determined by the
19 
Commission in accordance with law;
20 
(7) The seventh copy, to a citizens' authorized by the Commission to
21 
conduct an unofficial count: Provided, however, That the accreditation
22 
of the citizens’ arm shall be subject to the provision of Section 52(k) of
23 
Batas Pambansa Bldg. 881; and
24 
(8) The eighth copy shall be deposited inside the compartment of the ballot
25 
box for valid ballots; and
26 
(b) In the election of local officials;
27 
(1) The digital election return shall be electronically transmitted to the
28 
secure servers and the first copy of the manual election return, as
29 
digitally captured and printed, shall be delivered to city or municipal
30 
board of canvassers immediately after the closing of the polls;


1 
(2) The second copy to be posted on a wall within the premises of the polling
2 
place;
3 
(3) The third copy, to the Commission;
4 
(4) The fourth copy, to the provincial board of canvassers;
5 
(5) The fifth copy, to the dominant majority party as determined by the
6 
Commission in accordance with law;
7 
(6) The sixth copy, to the dominant minority party as determined by the
8 
Commission in accordance with law;
9 
(7) The seventh copy, to a citizens' authorized by the Commission to
10 
conduct an unofficial count: Provided, however. That the accreditation
11 
of the citizens’ arm shall be subject to the provisions of Section 52(k) of
12 
Batas Pambansa Bldg. 881; 
and
13 
(8) The eighth copy shall be deposited inside the compartment of the ballot
14 
box for valid votes.
15 
The copy of the election return posted on the wall shall be open for public
16 
viewing at any time of the day for forty-eight (48) hours following its posting.
17 
Any person may view or capture an image of the election return by means of
18 
any data capturing device such as, but not limited to, cameras at any time of
19 
the day for forty-eight (48) hours following its posting. After the prescribed
20 
period for posting, the chairman of the board of election inspectors shall
21 
collect the posted election returns and keep the same in his custody to be
22 
produced for image or data capturing as may be requested by any voter or
23 
any lawful purpose as may be ordered by competent authority.
24 
Except for those copies that are required to be delivered, copies of election
25 
returns may be claimed at the polling place. Any unclaimed copy shall be
26 
brought by the chairman of the board of election inspectors to the canvassing
27 
center where the recipients or their representatives may claim them. Copies
28 
still unclaimed at the canvassing center shall be deemed placed in the custody
29 
of the chairman of the board of election inspectors, who shall produce them
30 
when requested by the recipient or when ordered by a competent authority.
The Thirty (30) certified print copies of the election return for national 
positions shall be distributed as follows:
31 
(a) The first fourteen (14) copies shall be given to the fourteen (14) accredited
32 
major national parties in accordance with a voluntary agreement among
10


1 
them. If no such agreement is reached, the Commission shall decide which
2 
parties shall receive the copies on the basis of the criteria provided in
3 
Section 26 of Republic Act 7166.
4 
(b) The next three copies shall be given to the three accredited major local
5 
parties in accordance with a voluntary agreement among them. If no such
6 
agreement is reached, the Commission shall decide which parties shall
7 
receive the copies on the basis of criteria analogous to that provided in
8 
Section 26 of Republic Act 7166.
9
10 
(c) The next five copies shall be given to national broadcast or print media
11 
entities as may be equitably determined by the Commission in view of
12 
propagating the copies to the widest extent possible;
13 
(d) The next two copies shall be given to local broadcast or print media entities
14 
as may be equitably determined by the Commission in view of propagating
15 
the copies to the widest extent possible;
16 
(e) The next four copies to the major citizens' arms, including the accredited
17 
citizens' arms and other non-partisan groups or organizations enlisted by
18 
the Commission pursuant to Section 52(k) of Batas Pambansa Big. 881;
19 
(f) The next copy to be placed inside the compartment of the ballot box for
20 
valid ballots; and
21 
(g) The last copy to the provincial board of canvassers.
22 
The certified print copies may be claimed at the polling place. Any unclaimed
23 
copy shall be brought by the chairman of the board of election inspectors to
24 
the canvassing center where the recipients or representatives may claim
25 
them. Copies still unclaimed at the canvassing center shall be placed in the
26 
custody of the chairman of the board election inspectors, who shall produce
27 
them when requested by the recipient or when ordered by a competent
28 
authority.
29 
Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, any of the recipients of
30 
the print or digital copies of the election return may conduct an unofficial
31 
consolidation of votes and may announce the result to the public.
32 
The Commission shall post its digital files in its website for the public to view
33 
or download at any time of the day. The Commission shall maintain the files
34 
at least three years from the date of posting.
11


1 
Any violation of this section, or its pertinent portion, shall constitute an
2 
election offense and shall be penalized in accordance with Batas Pambansa
3 
Big. 881;
4 
SECTION 12. The Use of a Tally Board Not Allowed. - The use of a tally
5 
board, commonly used by Boards of Election Inspectors at the precinct level
6 
is no longer allowed and shall be replaced by the projected real-time input of
7 
results in the digital election return, as provided above.
8 
SECTION 13. Canvassing by Provincial City, District, and Municipal
9 
Board of Canvassers. - a) The city or municipal board of canvassers shall
10 
canvass the electronically transmitted election return for President, Vice-
11 
President, Senator, party-list representatives and Members of the House of
12 
Representatives and for elective provincial and city or municipal officials:
13 
Provided, That the returns for national positions shall be canvassed first.
14 
Upon completion of the canvass, it shall prepare the certificate of canvass for
15 
Representatives and elective provincial officials, announce the results of the
16 
election for national positions in the city or municipality and, thereafter,
17 
proclaim the elected city or municipal officials, as the case may be.
18 
b) The city board of canvassers of cities comprising one or more legislative
19 
districts shall canvass the electronically transmitted election returns for
20 
President, Vice-President, Senator, party-list representatives. Members of the
21 
House of Representatives and elective city officials: Provided that the returns
22 
for national positions shall be canvassed first. Upon completion of the
23 
canvass, the board shall prepare the certificate of canvass, of President, Vice-
24 
President, Senator and party-list representatives, announce the results of the
25 
election for national positions in the city and, thereafter, proclaim the elected
26 
members of the House of Representatives and city officials.
27 
c) (1) In the Metro Manila Area such municipality comprising a legislative
28 
district shall have district board of canvassers which shall canvass the
29 
electronically transmitted election return for President, Vice-Presidents,
30 
Senator, party-list representatives. Members for the House of Representatives
31 
and elective municipal officials: Provided, That the return for national
32 
positions shall be canvassed first. Upon completion of the canvass, it shall
33 
prepare the certificate of canvass for President, Vice- Presidents, Senators,
34 
and party-list representatives, announce the results of the election for
35 
national position in the municipality, and thereafter, proclaim the elected
36 
member of the House of the Representatives and city officials.
37 
(2) Each component municipality in a legislative district in the Metro Manila
38 
Area shall have a municipal board of canvassers which shall canvass the
39 
electronically transmitted election returns for President, Vice-President,
12


1 
Senator, party-list representatives, Members of the House of Representatives
2 
and elective municipal officials: Provided that the returns for national
3 
positions shall be canvassed first. Upon completion of the canvass, it shall
4 
prepare the certificate of canvass for Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Senators,
5 
party-list representatives and Members of the House of the Representatives,
6 
announce the results of the election for national position in the municipality,
7 
and thereafter, proclaim the elected municipal officials.
8 
(3) The district board of canvassers of each legislative district comprising two
9 
municipalities in Metro Manila area shall canvass the certificate of canvass
10 
for President, Vice-President, Senator, party-list representatives and Members
11 
of the House of Representatives submitted by the municipal board of
12 
canvassers of the component municipalities. Upon completion of the canvass,
13 
it shall prepare a certificate of canvass for President, Vice President, Senator,
14 
and party-list representatives, announce the results of the election for
15 
national positions in the district, and thereafter, proclaim the elected Member
16 
of the House of the Representatives in the legislative district.
17 
(d) The provincial board of canvassers shall canvass the electronically
18 
transmitted certificate of canvass for President, Vice-President, Senators,
19 
party-list representatives, members of the House of Representatives and
20 
elective provincial officials as well as plebiscite results, if any plebiscite is
21 
conducted simultaneously with the same election, as submitted by the board
22 
of canvassers of municipalities and component cities: Provided, That the
23 
certificates of canvass for national position shall be canvassed first. Upon
24 
completion of the canvass, it shall prepare the certificate of canvass for
25 
President, Vice-President, Senators and party-list representatives, announce
26 
the results of the election for national position in the province, and proclaim
27 
the elected members of the House of Representatives and provincial officials
28 
as well as the plebiscite results, if any.
29 
In conducting the canvass of election returns or certificates of canvass, as the
30 
case may be, the board of canvassers in a municipality, city, district or
31 
province shall project each election return or certificate of canvass on a wall
32 
from which its contents shall be read in order that those present in the
33 
canvassing center may follow the progress of the canvassing process from
34 
beginning to end. The Commission may utilize the appropriate projection
35 
equipment for this purpose.
36 
Immediately after the certificate of canvass for national positions is
37 
accomplished, the chairman of the board of canvassers shall announce the
38 
posting of the second copy thereof and its supporting statement of votes on a
39 
wall with sufficient lighting within the premises of the canvassing center. He
40 
shall then proceed to do the same in the present in the canvassing center.
13


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
Without delay and when feasible, he shall capture images of the certificate of 
canvass and supporting statements of votes using a secured data capturing 
device and thereafter, while in the premises of the canvassing center, 
immediately print the data so captured in thirty (30) copies. The board of 
canvassers shall then authenticate each printed copy, in the presence of 
watchers and within public view, by closely comparing the same with the 
certificate of canvass or statement of votes, as the case may be, posted on of 
the wall. If the board finds each printed copy a faithful reproduction of the 
certificate of canvass or statement of votes, all members thereof shall annotate 
and sign a certification to that effect on the bottom front of the printed copy.
11 
Each certified printed copy shall be placed in an envelope and distributed as
12 
herein provided. Designated recipients of the certified printed copies may
13 
receive their copies at the canvassing center.
14 
The chairman of the board shall transmit the digital files with digital
15 
encryptions for security reasons of the certificate of canvass and its
16 
supporting statement of votes using a secured transmission device with
17 
authentication features to the secured tabulation system of the Commission
18 
and to the systems of the other designated recipients as herein provided.
19 
Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, any of the recipients of
20 
the print or digital copies of the certificate of canvass and the supporting
21 
statements of votes may conduct an unofficial consolidation of votes and may
22 
announce the result thereof to the public.
23 
Any violation of this section, or its pertinent portion, shall constitute an
24 
election offence and shall be penalized in accordance with Batas Pambansa
25 
Big. 881.
26 
SECTION 14. Number of Copies of Certificate of Canvass and their
27 
Distribution. - a) the certificate of canvass for president, vice-president,
28 
senator and member of the house of Representatives and elective provincial
29 
official shall be prepared in seven copies by the city or municipal board of
30 
canvassers and distributed as follows:
31 
(1) The first copy shall be delivered to the provincial board of canvassers for
32 
use in the canvass election results for President, Vice-President, Senator and
33 
Member of the House of Representatives and elective provincial officials:
34 
(2) The second copy shall be sent to the Commission;
35 
(3) The third copy shall be posted on a wall within the premises of the
36 
canvassing center;


1 
(4) The fourth copy shall be kept by the chairman of the board: and
2 
(5) The fifth copy shall be given the citizens' arm designated by the
3 
Commission to conduct a media-based unofficial count, and the sixth and
4 
seventh copies shall be given to the citizen's arm designated by the
5 
Commission to conduct a media - based unofficial count, and the sixth and
6 
seventh copies shall be given to the representatives of two of the six major
7 
political parties in accordance with the voluntary agreement of the parties. If
8 
no such agreement is reached, the commission shall decide which parties
9 
shall receive the copies of the certificate of the canvass on the basis of the
10 
criteria provided in Section 26 hereof. The parties receiving the certificate
11 
shall have obligation to furnish the other parties with authentic copies thereof
12 
with the at least possible delay.
13 
b) The certificates of canvass for president, vice president, senators shall be
14 
prepared in seven (7) copies by the city boards of canvassers of cities
15 
comprising one or more legislative districts, by provincial boards of
16 
canvassers in the Metro Manila Area, and distributed as follows:
17 
(1) The first copy shall be sent to the Congress directed to the President of the
18 
Senate for use in the canvass of election results for President and Vice-
19 
President;
20 
(2) The second copy shall be sent to the Commission for use in the canvass of
21 
the election results for Senators;
22 
(3) The third copy shall be posted on a wall within the premises of the
23 
canvassing center;
24 
(4) The fourth copy shall be kept by the chairman of the board; and
25 
(5) The fifth copy shall be given to the citizens’ arm designated by the
26 
Commission to conduct a media -based unofficial count, and the sixth and
27 
seventh copies shall be given to the representatives of two of the six major
28 
political parties. If no such agreement is reached, the commission shall decide
29 
which parties shall receive the copies of the certificate of canvass on the basis
30 
of the criteria provided in Section 26 hereof. The parties receiving the
31 
certificates shall have the obligation to furnish the other parties with
32 
authentic copies thereof with the least possible delay.
33 
The of the certificate of canvass posted on the wall shall be open for public
34 
viewing at any time of the day for forty-eight (48) hours following its posting.
35 
Any person may view or capture an image of the certificate of canvass. After
36 
the prescribed period for posting, the chairman of the board of canvassers
15


1 
shall collect the posted certificate of canvass and keep the same in his custody
2 
to be produced for image or data capturing as may be requested by any voter
3 
or for any lawful purpose as may be ordered competent authority.
4 
Except for those copies that are required to be delivered, copies of certificates
5 
of canvass may be claimed at the canvassing center. Any unclaimed copy shall
6 
be deemed placed in the custody of the chairman of the board of canvassers,
7 
who shall produce them requested by the recipient or when ordered by a
8 
competent authority.
9 
The thirty (30) certified print copies of the certificate canvass for national
10 
positions shall be distributed as follows:
11 
(a) The first fourteen (14) copies shall be given to the fourteen (14) accredited
12 
major national parties in accordance with a voluntary agreement among
13 
them. If no such agreement is reached, the commission shall decide which
14 
parties shall receive the copies on the basis of the criteria provided in Section
15 
26 hereof;
16 
(b) The next three copies shall be given to the three accredited major local
17 
parties in accordance with a voluntary agreement among them. If no such
18 
agreement is reached, the Commission shall decide which parties shall receive
19 
the copies in the basis of criteria analogous to the provided in Section 26
20 
hereof;
21 
(c) The next five copies shall be given to national broadcast or print media
22 
entities as may be equitably determined by the commission in view of
23 
propagating the copies to the widest extent possible;
24 
(d) The next two copies shall be given to local broadcast or print media entitles
25 
as may be equitably determined by the Commission in view propagating the
26 
copies to the widest extent possible;
27 
(e) The next four copies to the major citizen's arms, including accredited
28 
citizen' arm, and other non -partisan groups or organizations enlisted by the
29 
commission pursuant to section 52(K) of Batas Pambansa Big. 881; and
30 
(f) The last two copies to be kept in file by the chairman of the board of
31 
canvassers to be subsequently distributed as the national board of canvassers
32 
may direct.
33 
The certified print copies may be claimed at the canvassing center. Any
34 
unclaimed copy shall be deemed place in the custody of the chairman of the
16


1 
board of canvassers, who shall produce them when requested by the recipient
2 
or when ordered by a competent authority.
3 
The commission shall post its digital files in its website for the public to view
4 
or download at any time of the day. The commission shall maintain the files
5 
for at least three years from the date of posting.
6 
Any violation of this section, or its pertinent portion, shall constitute an
7 
election offense and shall be penalized in accordance with Batas Pambansa
8 
Big. 881.
9 
SECTION 15. Congress as the National Board of Canvassers for the
10 
Election of President and Vice President: The Commission en banc as
11 
the National Board of Canvassers for the election of senators:
12 
Determination of Authenticity and Due Execution of Certificates of
13 
Canvass. - Congress and the Commission en banc shall determine the
14 
authenticity and due execution of the electronically transmitted certificates
15 
for President and Vice-President and Senators, respectively, as accomplished
16 
and transmitted to it by the local boards of canvassers, on a showing that; (1)
17 
each certificate of canvass was executed, signed and thumb marked by the
18 
chairman and member of the board of canvassers and transmitted or caused
19 
to be transmitted to Congress by them; (2) each certificate of canvass contains
20 
the names of all of the candidates for President and Vice-President or Senator,
21 
as the case may be, and their corresponding votes in words and their
22 
corresponding votes in words and in figures; (3) there exist no discrepancy in
23 
other authentic copies of the document such as statement of votes of any of
24 
its supporting document such as statement of votes by city or municipality or
25 
by precinct or discrepancy in the votes of any candidate in words and figures
26 
in the certificate; and (4) there exist no discrepancy in the votes of any
27 
candidate in words and figures in the certificates of canvass against the
28 
aggregate number of votes appearing in the election returns of precincts
29 
covered by the certificate of canvass: Provided, That certified print copies of
30 
election returns or certificates of canvass may be used for the purpose of
31 
verifying the existence of the discrepancy.
32 
When the certificate of canvass, duly certified by the board of canvassers of
33 
each province, city of district, appears to be incomplete, the Senate President
34 
or the chairman of the Commission, as the case may be, shall require the
35 
board of canvassers concerned to transmit by personal delivery, the election
36 
returns form polling places that were not included in the certificate of canvass
37 
and supporting statements. Said election returns shall be submitted by
38 
personal delivery within two (2) days from receipt of notice.
17


1 
When it appears that any certificate of canvass or supporting statement of
2 
votes of each province, city of district, appears to be incomplete, the Senate
3 
President or the chairman of the Commission, as the case may be, shall
4 
require the board of canvassers concerned to transmit by personal delivery,
5 
the election returns from polling places that were not included in the
6 
certificate of canvass and supporting statements. Said election returns shall
7 
be submitted by personal delivery within two (2) days from receipt of notice.
8 
When it appears that any certificate of canvass including other duly certified
9 
printed copies thereof or supporting statement of votes by city or municipality
10 
or by precinct bears erasures or alteration which may cast doubt as to the
11 
veracity of the number of votes stated herein and may affect the result of the
12 
election, upon requested of the presidential, vice- presidential or senatorial
13 
candidate concerned or his party. Congress or the Commission en banc, as
14 
the case may be shall, for the sole purpose of verifying the actual the votes as
15 
they appear in the copies if the election returns submitted to it.
16 
Any person who present in evidence a simulated copy of an election return,
17 
certificate of canvass or statement of votes, or a printed copy of an election
18 
return, certificate of canvass or statement of votes bearing a simulated
19 
certification or a simulated image, shall be guilty of an election offense shall
20 
be penalized in accordance with Batas Pambansa Big. 881.
21 
SECTION 16. Communication Channels for Electronic Tr€msmissions.-
22 
Electronic transmission which is defined under R.A. 9369 as conveying data
23 
in electronic form from one location to another shall be guided by the
24 
following: all electronic transmissions of the election returns, certificates of
25 
canvass and other related documents shall utilize secure transmission
26 
channels as recommended by the Department of Science and Technology and
27 
the National Telecommunications Commission to ensure authentication and
28 
integrity of transmission.
29
30
31
The Commission is hereby authorized to procure the necessary equipment, 
facilities and services for putting up the electronic transmission system in 
order to effectively implement the provisions of this act.
32 
Electronic transmission of the election returns and such other related
33 
documents from the precinct level shall be forwarded to the COMELEC office
34 
and to the national broadcast or print media entities as may be equitably be
35 
determined by the COMELEC.
36 
SECTION 17. Pre-proclamation controversy.- In case of any discrepancy,
37 
incompleteness, erasure or alteration as mentioned above, the procedure on
18


1 
pre-proclamation controversies shall be adopted and applied as provided in
2 
Sections 17,18,19 and 20 of Republic Act No. 7166.
3 
SECTION 18. Election Offenses under this Act- In addition to the
4 
violations of the pertinent provisions of this Act, the following shall also
5 
constitute election offenses;
6 
(a) Any person who removes the election return that is posted on the wall,
7 
whether within or after the prescribed forty-eight (48) hours of posting, or
8 
defaces the same in any manner;
9 
(b) Any person who simulates an actual election return, or a print or digital
10 
copy thereof;
11 
(c) Any person who simulates the certification in a print of an election return;
12 
(d) The chairman or any member of the board of election inspectors who,
13 
during the prescribe period of posting, removes the election return from
14 
the wall on which it had been posted other than for the purpose of
15 
immediately transferring it to a more suitable place;
16 
(e) The chairman or any member of the board of election inspectors who signs
17 
or authenticates a print of the election return outside of the polling place;
18 
and
19 
(f) The chairman or any member of the board of election inspectors who signs
20 
or authenticates a print which bears an image different from the election
21 
return produced after counting and posted on the wall.
22 
(g) Any person who remove the certificate of canvass posted on the wall,
23 
whether within or after the prescribed forty-eight (48) hours of posting, or
24 
defaces the same in any manner;
25 
(h) Any person who simulates an actual certificates of canvass or statement
26 
of votes, or a print or digital copy thereof;
27 
(i) Any person who simulates the certification of a certificate of canvass or
28 
statement of votes;
29 
(j) The chairman or any member of the board of canvassers who, during the
30 
prescribed period of posting, remove the certificate of canvass or its
31 
supporting statement of votes from the wall on which they have been
32 
posted other than for the purpose of immediately transferring them to a
33 
more suitable place;
19


(k) The chairman of any member of the board of canvassers who sign or 
authenticates a print of the certificate of canvass or its supporting 
statement of votes outside of the polling place: and
4
5
6 
7
(1) The chairman or any member of the board of canvassers who sign or 
authenticate a print that bears an image different from the certificate of 
canvass or statement of votes produced after counting and posted on the 
wall.
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
SECTION 19. Implementing Rules and Regulations and Bidding.-
Immediately upon the approval of this Act, the Commission shall formulate 
such rules and regulations that will effectively implement this Act for 
purposes of the 2019 national, local and ARMM elections and all subsequent 
elections thereafter. In addition, the Commission shall prescribe the technical 
specifications for the electronic devices and computer programs to be used for 
implementing of this Act, with an aim to ensure fair, honest, and orderly 
elections and prompt determination of the true results thereof.
16 
SECTION 20. Appropriations. - Congress shall provide the necessary
17 
appropriation in a supplemental budget or general appropriations act, as the
18 
case may be, without delay and for purposes of the 2019 national, local and
19 
ARMM elections.
20
21
22
23
SECTION 21. 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.
24 
Approved,
25
20