TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
25 AUG-4 P5:06
SENATE
S. No. 841
RL'CfiiVZD 3,.
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 185 OF THE OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE, AS AMENDED 
BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7904, BY ABOLISHING THE PRINTING AND MAILING 
OF THE VOTERS INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTION SHEET
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Voters Information and Instruction Sheet is a useful reference for the 
voting public as they exercise their right to suffrage. It is a personalized document 
containing the name and address of the voter, piace where one is registered to vote, 
the exact precinct where one should go to come election time, and simplified 
instructions/reminders on the proper casting of votes. It also contains the list of 
candidates running for different positions in a given iocality.
The Omnibus Election Code prescribes that such document be sent by the 
Commission on Eiections (COMELEC) to every voter at least thirty (30) days before an 
election. But there have been persistent complaints about getting the information and 
instruction sheet too late, while some have not received theirs at all.
For the 2022 national and local elections, COMELEC has only distributed 43 
million out of the total 67.4 million information sheets just a week before the poliing


date1. During the 2019 elections, COMELEC discovered errors in the printing of voters' 
information sheet and ordered to stop the distribution of the same as it "could have 
confused the voters" and "could have resulted in a failure of elections."2
Considering the presence of digital technologies, other alternative modes of 
publication, and more effective means of disseminating information such as online 
platforms that could still achieve the same intention of educating and guiding the 
voters, the production and distribution of physical or printed copies of millions of 
voters' information sheet are just too costly and outdated. A total of P355.224 million 
were spent for this purpose in 2022. This staggering amount could have been diverted 
for other election-related expenses, such as increase in the honoraria for teachers who 
serve during the elections.
In view of more efficient use of taxpayers' money and public funds, the abolition 
of the printing and mailing of Voters' Information and Instruction Sheet, as 
recommended by the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's 
Participation during the 19th Congress, is hereby proposed.
JINC^OY EJERCITO ESTRADA
1 "43M voter's information sheets for Eleksyon 2022 distributed nationwide -Comelec." May 2, 2022. 
https://www.Rmanetwork.eom/news/topstories/nation/830380/43m-voter-s-information-sheets-for-
eleksvon-2022-distributed-nationwide-comelec/storv/
2 "Comelec exec: NPO 'subcontracted' printing of voter information sheet." May 15, 2019 
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1119187/comelec-exec-npo-subcontracted-printing-of-voter-information-sheet


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
■ii'i-!’ of i...
SENATE
S. No. 841
25 AUG-4 ?5 '•06
Rl'CttVtD f>r
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 185 OF THE OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE, AS AMENDED 
BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7904, BY ABOLISHING THE PRINTING AND MAILING 
OF THE VOTERS INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTION SHEET
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Section 185 of the Omnibus Election Code, as amended, is hereby
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further amended to read as follows:
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"SEC. 185. Official Sample Ballots. - The Commission
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shall provide the board of election inspectors with official
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sample ballots at the rate of thirty (30) ballots per polling
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place. The official sample ballots shall be printed on colored
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paper, in all respects like the official ballots but bearing
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instead the words 'Official Sample Ballot' to be shown to the
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public and used in demonstrating how to fill out and fold the
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official ballots properly. No name of any actual candidate shall
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be written on the spaces for voting on the official sample
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ballots provided by the Commission, nor shall they be used
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for voting.
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"At least thirty (30) days before an election, it shall be
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the duty of the Commission on Eiections to [furnish-evcry
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rcgistcrGd voter through registored mail with return card.


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pcrsonDl service with corresponding receipt to be signed by
the voter or any person who knows the voter7-er-£iny other
practicable means with an unfilled official sample ballot, voter
mformation sheet,] PUBLICIZE THE UNFILLED OFFICIAL 
SAMPLE BALLOT IN THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE 
COMMISSION AND THROUGH BROADCAST, DIGITAL, 
ELECTRONIC OR ONLINE MEDIA, AS WELL AS POST 
THE SAME INFORMATION AT CONSPICUOUS PUBLIC 
AREAS IN EVERY BARANGAY DURING THE NATIONAL 
AND LOCAL ELECTIONS, INCLUDING BARANGAY AND 
SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS, and [a] THE list 
of all registered [national, provincial and city] candidates to 
be voted in the said election. [The information sheet shall 
include the voter's nameT-addressT-the precinct-ancl-the place
where-he-is-registered, and simplified instructions-as-to-the
casting of votes.] The names of the candidates shall be listed 
in alphabetical order under their respective party affiliation, 
IF ANY [and a- one-line statement not to exceed three (3) 
words of-their occupation-or profession]: Provided, however, 
That in the [printing] POSTING of the names of the 
candidates for national offices, the alphabetical order shall be 
democratized SUCH THAT NAMES OF CANDIDATES ARE 
SHOWN IN EQUAL PROMINENCE, [so that the listed 
names shall be-made in three (3) columns: the first column
shall commence with the letter A- and end with the letter Z;
the-sec-ond column shall commence with the letters T-Z' and
thereafter—'A-H] and the third column shall commence-with
the letters vQ-Z-and thereafter 'A-P'. These information-may
bo contained in a single sheet or booklet form, and the
number and location of the voters'polling place shall be
prominently indicated therein.] Persons nominated under the


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party-list system SHALL likewise be included in the
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abovementioned list."
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Sec. 2. The information to be publicized or posted under Section 1 of this Act
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shall be in any of the official languages of the Republic of the Philippines or in the
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dialect understood by a majority of the voters in the region where the information is
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directed.
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Sec. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules and
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regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed
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or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
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circulation.
Approved,