WATCHER’S GUIDE

Comelec Resolution No. 10460

Mid-term election

• May 13, 2019 • Election Officer

• Polling place • Board of Election Inspectors
• Voting counting machine (VCMs)
• 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. • Board of Canvassers
• Election Day Computerized Voters
List (EDCVL)
• Registered voter
BOARD OF ELECTION INSPECTOR (BIs)

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Registered voter
• Of good moral character
• Of known integrity and
competence
• Not been guilty of election offense
or crime punishable by more than
6 months
• Able to speak and write Filipino or
English
Disqualifications:
• Related within the 4th civil
degree to the member of the
same Electoral Board
• Related within the 4th civil
degree to any candidate or
candidate’s spouse.
FUNCTIONS of BI:
1. Conduct the final testing and sealing of VCMs
2. Verify the appointment of watchers (Sec.46)
3. Verify the identity of voter
4. Administer the electronic counting of votes
5. Print election returns
6. Transmit electronic results
7. Maintain order within the polling place
8. Not to make premature announcement during the voting period
WATCHERS
Things to remember as Watchers
• Official watcher of the party – appointment paper
• Time bound
• Note that the watcher is Qualified
• Watchers kit
• Cellphone
• Disqualifications
• When to vote
• Bring EDCVL
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Registered voter of the polling place.
• Good moral character.
• Not been convicted by final judgment of any crime, involving election
offense.
• Knows how to read and write.
• Not related to the Electoral Board.
DUTIES OF WATCHERS:
• Always bring the official appointment as watcher.
• Sign the Minutes
• Take down notes as observed inside the polling place
• Keenly observe the entire election period.
• Challenge the votes, voters and illegal voters
• Take picture, image or photo of the proceedings
• File a protest against any irregularity or violation of the law
• Sign and obtain a copy of the certificate of canvass, election returns
DUTIES OF WATCHERS:
• Witness and inform of the proceedings of the EB
• Position themselves behind the chairperson while publicly
announcing the election returns.
• After 6PM, list down the voters within 30 meter from the polling
place. (to be called 3 times in a chronological order)
• Persons allowed and not allowed to enter the polling
• May assist voters in looking at their polling precincts
PROHIBITIONS TO WATCHERS:
• Bringing of cellphone inside is prohibited.
• Not allowed to speak to anyone that would disturb the proceedings.
• Do not leave the poling place
• Cannot assist PWDs and illiterates
• Take pictures of the actual voting of any person
• 2 watchers per polling place to serve alternately (Sec. 44)
TESTING & SEALING OF VCMS
PRELIMINARIES TO VOTING
• VCM Box to be opened on May 13 at 5:00 A.M. in the presence of
watchers.
• VCM box and ballots are inside the polling place.
• Set-up the polling place and post a copy of PCVL
• Watchers shall be at the back of the Chairman to observe the opening
of the VCMs
Check the following:
 VCM box is sealed
Ballot box is empty with 4 seals, including the SD cards
Package of official ballots is duly sealed. The breaking of the package
shall be done in your presence
Operate and open the VCM.
VOTING PROPER
• Registered voters are allowed to vote, unless their names are
manually crossed out from the list due to:
 transfer of residence
Death
Voter’s record was deleted
Local absentee voter

If voter’s name not found, he is not allowed to vote.

Remedy: file a protest. Immediate action is to secure a Certificate from the
COMELEC.
Challenge in the identity of voters
• Any watcher (person) may challenge the identity of the voter. (Sec. 57
par.3)

How to overcome challenge?

 EB to identify voter’s signature and photo in the EDCVL.

 Present voter’s ID.
 EB may identify the voters under oath to be recorded in the Minutes
If not satisfied, watcher may file a protest and state such in the Minutes and
always sign the Minutes.
Challenge based on illegal acts:
• Any watcher may challenge the right to vote if:
Received or expects to receive, paid, offered or promised to pay,
contributed, offered or promised to contribute money or anything of
value as consideration for his vote or for the vote of another;
Made or received a promise to influence the giving or
withholding of any such vote;
Made a bet or is interested directly or indirectly in a bet that
depends upon the results of the election
Challenge based on illegal acts:
How to overturn the challenge?
The challenged voter shall take an oath before the Chair
disputing the challenge.

If not satisfied, take down in the Minutes.

PREPARATION OF BALLOTS FOR ILLETERATE &
PWDs
• The fact of illiteracy shall be indicated in the EDCVL.
• Watchers not allowed to assist.
• Preference of assistors.
• Limits of assistors.
MANNER OF VOTING Sec. 73
REJECTED BALLOTS
I. Misread Ballots – not properly scanned.

Remedy: Voter may re-feed the ballots in 4 different

orientations.
REJECTED BALLOTS
II. Previously Read Ballot – ballot was previously scanned already.

Remedy: file a Protest.

REJECTED BALLOTS
III. Invalid ballots – not configured.

Remedy: if it belongs to another precinct, issue correct

ballot.
In case of objection,
• File a Protest but in no case that the voter shall be given another
ballot.
• All rejected ballots shall be marked as “REJECTED” and the EB shall
sign at the back of the ballot and put it inside the Envelope for
rejected ballots.
ONE VOTER = ONE BALLOT
CLOSING OF POLLS
• Unused ballots
• Electronically count the votes
• Print election returns
sign the election returns
• Post the returns in designated places
• Public announcement of election returns
• Electronically transmit the results
• Shut down the VCMs