June 29, 2012

COMELEC RESOLUTION NO. 9485

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR VOTING OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
(PWDS) AND FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCESSIBLE POLLING PLACES IN
CONNECTION WITH THE MAY 13, 2013 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS

WHEREAS, the Philippines is a State Party to the Convention on the Rights of

Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) which rearms that Persons with Disabilities
(PWDs) enjoy the same human rights as everyone;
WHEREAS, the CRPD not only claries that States should not discriminate against
PWDs, it also set out many steps that States must take to create an enabling
environment so they can enjoy real equality in society;
WHEREAS, even prior to becoming a State Party to the CRPD in 2008, the
Philippines has already enacted Republic Act 7277 in 1995, otherwise known as the
Magna Carta for Disabled Persons as amended by Republic Act 9442 in 2007, which
arms its commitment to the full participation and total integration of PWDs into
the mainstream of society;
WHEREAS, the Commission on Election, as a matter of policy of aording PWDs an
equal access to electoral processes, promulgated resolutions pertaining to PWDs'
exercise of the right to surage such as Resolution 9220 and Minute Resolution 110708 in accordance to their rights to participation in political and public life;
WHEREAS, accessibility of polling places to PWD voters on election day is an
obligation of the State to ensure "equality" and "full participation" of PWDs in social
life, development and in particular to the exercise of their right to suffrage;
HDTSIE

WHEREAS, this Resolution provides the guidelines for voting of PWDs and for the
establishment of accessible polling places and providing other forms of assistance for
PWDs in selected voting centers on election day to ensure that they enjoy the right
to suffrage on equal basis with others;
NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the
Omnibus Election Code and other related election laws, the Commission on
Elections HEREBY RESOLVES to promulgate the following rules and regulations on
PWD voting:
RULE I

Introductory Provisions
SECTION 1.
(A)

Definition of Terms. As used in this Resolution, the term:

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) shall include those who have

long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments,

which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full
and eective participation in society on an equal basis with
others. For purposes of this Resolution, PWDs shall include those
with any of the following disabilities, which hamper the full
enjoyment of the right to suffrage:
(i)

Physical Pertains to conditions associated with muscular

or skeletal functions that limit a person's performance of
activities associated with movement, both the person
himself and/or of objects.

(ii)

Hearing Pertains to conditions associated to the auditory

senses that can manifest as partial or complete loss of
hearing.

(iii)

Speech Pertains to conditions related to diculties in

communicating through speech.
IcaHTA

(iv)

Visual Pertains to conditions associated with visual

senses that can manifest as partial or complete loss of sight,
among others.

(v)

Non-Manifest Pertains to conditions that are not

immediately apparent but may need assistance from the
COMELEC.

(B)

Special Board of Election Inspectors for PWDs (SBEI-PWD) shall

refer to the special body which conducts the election in the
accessible polling place usually composed of three (3) public
school teachers appointed by the Commission. Every SBEI-PWD
shall have a support sta depending on the number of PWDs
assigned to the accessible polling place.

(C)

Accessible Polling Place for PWDs shall refer to the place where
the Special Board of Election Inspectors for PWDs (SBEI-PWD)
conducts its proceeding and where the PWDs cast their votes on
election day.

(D)

Election Day Computerized Voters List for PWDs (EDCVL-PWD)

shall refer to the nal list of registered PWD voters who are
voting through the accessible polling places established in
selected voting centers (containing the voter's photographs,
signatures, and thumb prints) used on the day of the elections
wherein the voters must imprint their thumb marks and ax
their signatures after casting their votes duly certied by the
SBEI-PWD.

(E)

Posted Computerized Voters List for PWDs (PCVL-PWD) shall

refer to the nal list of PWD voters (containing the voters names,
addresses and precinct numbers) posted in each accessible polling
place.
(F)

Voting center shall refer to the building or place where the

polling place is located.

(G)

Precinct shall refer to the unit of territory for the purpose of

voting.
EHITaS

SECTION 2.
Who are Entitled to Avail of the Accessible Polling Place for PWDs.
The following shall be entitled to vote in the accessible polling place for PWDs:
(A)

PWDs who checked the box containing "Disabled/Person with

Disability" in their application for registration and who have an
active registration status.

(B)

PWDs who have previously registered but have not indicated the
type of disability, or who may have developed/manifested such
disability after having been registered AND subsequently
UPDATED THEIR RECORDS by accomplishing the Supplementary
Data at the Office of the Election Officer.

Further, only those PWDs whose names appear in the EDCVL-PWD

and/or PCVL-PWD may vote in the accessible polling place.
RULE II

Committee on PWD Voting

SECTION 1.
Creation. A Committee on PWD Voting shall be created and
composed of the following:
Chairman

Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento

Vice-Chairman
:
Dir. Esmeralda Ladra
Law Department
Members
:
Dir. Divina Blas-Perez
Education and Barangay Affairs Department
Engr. Vergil Soriano
Election Records and Statistics Department
:

Ms. Rena Sabio

Administrative Services Department

ICAcaH

Ms. Melanie Cruz

Disbursing Officer

Mr. Raul Bautista

Information and Technology Department

Ms. Emma Masongsong

Education and Information Department

Dir. Eduardo Mejos

Finance
Atty. Rexie May Magsano
Office of the Committee Chairman

Ms. Mary Loren Valdivia

Office of the Committee Chairman
Ms. Mila Tamonan
Office of the Committee Chairman

Mr. Paul Angeles

Office of the Committee Chairman

One (1) Representative from the Office

of Comm. Lucenito N. Tagle

One (1) Representative from the Office

of Armando C. Velasco

One (1) Representative from the Office

of Elias R. Yusoph

One (1) Representative from the Office

of Comm. Christian Robert S. Lim

SECTION 2.
Powers and Functions of the Committee . The Committee shall
oversee and ensure the implementation of all COMELEC resolutions pertaining to
PWD voting and shall have the following powers and functions:
CcAHEI

(A)

Identify the voting centers where the accessible polling place

will be established. Accessible polling places shall be established,
as far as practicable, in voting centers which have two or threestorey buildings.

(B)

Identify the total number of PWDs in the voting centers where

an accessible polling place shall be established.

(C)

Prepare, in coordination with the Information Technology

Department, the Election Day Certied Voter's List for PWDs
(EDCVL-PWD) per accessible polling place.

(D)

Determine the election paraphernalia, the number of SBEI-PWD

and support staff required in the accessible polling places.

(E)

Ensure that the EDCVL-PWD are properly distributed at the

accessible polling places.

(F)

Perform and exercise such other powers and functions as may be

necessary for the proper implementation of COMELEC resolutions
and rules on PWD voting.
RULE III

Accessible Polling Places for PWDs

SECTION 1.
Accessible Polling Places for PWDs. The accessible polling place for
PWDs shall be constituted by maintaining the existing precinct assignment of the
PWD but the polling place shall be assigned at the ground oor of the voting center.
The accessible polling place should be established in an area spacious enough to
accommodate more than 10 PWD voters at a given time and considers the mobility
requirements of PWDs particularly those who are wheelchair users.
The Election Ocer/s shall determine the voting centers where an accessible polling
place shall be established subject to the approval of the Education and Barangay
Aairs Department. The number of accessible polling places to be established per
voting center shall be based on the number of registered PWD voters assigned in a
particular voting center.
IaDTES

In the determination which voting centers will have an accessible polling place, the
Election Ocer must rst designate regular polling places which have PWD voters
at the ground oor. In case that the regular polling places which have PWD voters
cannot all be assigned at the ground oor, the Election Ocer shall recommend that
an accessible polling place be established in the respective voting center.

The accessible polling place, as far as practicable, shall be free of any physical
barriers and provides the necessary mobility, communications, visual and other
forms of assistance for the PWDs.
PWDs who were not able to indicate that they have a disability in their application
forms or were unable to update their records shall vote in the regular polling place
where they will be provided an express lane and assistor.
SECTION 2.
Assistance Provided at the Accessible Polling Place . The following
assistance, as far as practicable, shall be provided at the accessible polling place
(A)

Assistor In case the voter cannot accomplish the ballot by

himself, the assistor shall be the one to mechanically accomplish
the ballot pursuant to the orders and directions of the voter.

Said person may be assisted in the preparation of his ballot by any

person who is a:
(i)

Relative within fourth civil degree of consanguinity and

affinity;

(ii)

Any person of his condence who belong to the same

household;

(iii)

Any member of the SBEI-PWD.

All assistors must be of voting age.

No person may assist a PWD more than three (3) times, except the
members of the SBEI-PWD.

In all cases, the poll clerk shall rst verify from the PWD whether
he/she had authorized the assistor to fill-up his/her ballot.
The assistor shall, in the presence of the PWD voter, prepare the ballot
using a ballot secrecy folder.
EHaASD

The assistor shall bind himself in writing and under oath to ll the
ballot strictly in accordance with the instructions of the voter and
not reveal the contents thereof, by axing his signature in the
appropriate space in the Minutes of Voting.
(B)

Communication assistance Assistance such as sign language

interpretation, or the use of writing materials and papers to
communicate, or any other mechanism that allows persons with
disabilities related to speech and/or hearing to communicate their
concerns to the SBEI-PWD and vice-versa.

(C)

Visual assistance Assistance provided such as reading aloud of

the printed instructions and forms, providing recorded voice
instructions, printing of voting instructions in large letters or any
other mechanism that can be utilized by the persons with
disability related to sight.

The Commission, through the Election Ocer, shall designate

members of the accredited citizens' arms who may assist PWDs
in the accessible polling place.
SECTION 3.
Establishment of a Waiting Area for PWDs Inside the Voting Center
Which Has an Accessible Polling Place. The Election Ocer in coordination with
the principal or administrative ocer of the voting center shall establish a waiting
area for PWDs inside the voting center preferably near the gate or a classroom
beside the accessible polling place.
The Election Ocer may coordinate with the local government units to ensure that
tents and chairs will be provided in the waiting area.
SECTION 4.
Preparation of the EDCVL-PWD and PCVL-PWD. The EDCVL-PWD
shall be prepared by the ITD containing the names of all registered PWDs who are
voting through the accessible polling places established in selected voting centers.
The PCVL-PWD shall be prepared by the concerned Election Officer.
SECTION 5.
Persons Allowed Inside the Accessible Polling Places. Only the
following shall be allowed to enter the accessible polling places:
EAISDH

(A)

Members and support staff of the SBEI-PWD;

(B)

Watchers who shall stay only in the space reserved for them;

(C)

Monitoring groups (maximum of 2 per accessible polling place)

who shall stay in the space for watchers;

(D)

Representatives of the Commission on Human Rights;

(E)

Representatives of the Commission on Elections;

(F)

PWDs accomplishing their ballots;

(G)

PWDs waiting for their turn to accomplish their ballots;

(H)

Assistors;

(I)

Other persons who may be specically authorized by the

Commission.

SECTION 6.
Persons Not Allowed Inside Accessible Polling Place. Unless
specically authorized by the Commission, it is unlawful for the following to enter
any polling place or stay within a radius of fifty (50) meters thereof, except to vote:
(A)

Any ocer or member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or

the Philippine National Police;

(B)

Any peace ocer or any armed person belonging to any extralegal police agency, special forces, reaction forces, strike forces,
Civilian Armed Force Geographical Units, barangay tanods or
other similar forces or paramilitary forces, including special
forces, and security guards.

(C)

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

and

(D)

Any candidate
appointed.

or

barangay

ocial,

whether

elected

or

TaISDA

However, the SBEI-PWD may, by a majority vote, if it deems necessary, order in

writing the detail of a policeman or any peace ocer for its protection or for the
protection of the election documents and paraphernalia. Such order shall be entered
in the Minutes. Said policeman or peace ocer shall stay outside the polling place
near enough to be easily called by the BEI at anytime. In no case shall the said
policeman or peace ocer hold any conversation with any voter or disturb or
prevent or in any manner obstruct the free access of the voters to the polling place.
RULE IV

Special Board of Election Inspectors, Support Staff, Watchers and Monitoring

Groups
SECTION 1.
Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI-PWD) and Support Sta
per Accessible Polling Place. The Commission, through its Election Ocer in
districts/cities/municipalities where an accessible polling place is established, shall
constitute the SBEI-PWD in accordance with the period provided in the calendar of
activities for the elections. Special Education (SPED) teachers shall be prioritized in

the assignment to the accessible polling place.

In addition, the Election Ocer shall designate support sta for every accessible
polling place.
The SBEI-PWD and its support sta shall have the same qualications and shall be
appointed in the same manner as the regular BEI.
SECTION 2.

Powers and Functions of the SBEI-PWD. The SBEI-PWD shall:

(A)

Receive and bring the needed election paraphernalia to the

accessible polling place on election day;

(B)

Receive from the SBEI-PWD support sta (assigned per

accessible polling place) the precinct-specic ballots (per precinct)
contained in a properly sealed and signed envelope;

(C)

Conduct only the voting in the accessible polling place (the

scanning and counting shall be done in the PWDs respective
precinct);
ITDSAE

(D)

Seal and sign the envelopes containing the lled-up ballots (per
precinct) and hand it to the SBEI-PWD support sta for counting
in the PWDs respective precinct;

(E)

Act as deputies of the Commission on the conduct of the

elections;

(F)

Maintain order within the accessible polling place and its

premises; keep access thereto open and unobstructed; and
enforce obedience to its lawful orders;

(G)

Perform such other functions prescribed by law or by the rules

and regulations promulgated by the Commission.

SECTION 3.
Duties of the SBEI-PWD Support Sta. There shall be one (1)
SBEI-PWD support sta for every accessible polling place. The number of the
support sta may be increased depending on the number of PWDs assigned to the
accessible polling place.
The SBEI-PWD support staff shall:
(A)

Collect the ballots of the PWDs assigned to the accessible polling

place from the different clustered precincts in the voting center.

(B)

Bring the collected ballots to the accessible polling place in the

same voting center.

(C)

Return for counting the accomplished ballots to the BEI of the

dierent clustered precincts where the same ballots were taken

on election day.
The watchers shall accompany the SBEI-PWD support sta from the accessible
polling place to the regular polling places of the PWDs, then from the regular polling
places to the accessible polling place and, nally, from the accessible polling place to
the regular polling place.
SECTION 4.
Proceedings of the SBEI-PWD. The meeting of the SBEI-PWD shall
be public and shall be held in the accessible polling place designated by the
Commission.
cDTACE

SECTION 5.
Voting Privilege of the SBEI-PWD. Members of the SBEI-PWD who
are not availing of the Local Absentee Voting may, on election day, vote in the
precincts where they are registered, provided that their absence in the accessible
polling place shall not be more than thirty (30) minutes and that they schedule
their voting so that only one member of the SBEI-PWD shall leave at any one time.
SECTION 6.
Prohibition Against Political Activity. No member of the SBEI-PWD
or its support sta (per accessible polling place) shall engage in any partisan political
activity or take part in the election except to discharge his duties as such.
SECTION 7.
Honoraria of the SBEI-PWD and Their Support Sta. The SBEIPWD and support sta shall receive honorarium/allowance and other emoluments
as may be authorized by the Commission.
SECTION 8.
Official Watchers of Candidates, Political Parties and Other Groups.
Each candidate and registered political party or coalition of political parties duly
registered with the Commission and elding candidates in the election, as well as
duly accredited citizen's arms may appoint two watchers, to serve alternately, in
every special polling place. However, candidates for Senator, candidates for Member,
Sangguniang Panlalawigan or Sangguniang Panlungsod, or Sangguniang Bayan,
belonging to the same ticket or slate, shall collectively be entitled to one watcher.
Duly accredited citizens' arms of the Commission shall be entitled to appoint a
watcher in every accessible polling place. Other civil, professional, business, service,
youth, and other similar organizations, with prior authority of the Commission, shall
be entitled collectively to appoint one watcher in every special polling place.
If, because of limited space, all watchers cannot be accommodated in the accessible
polling place, preference shall be given to the watchers of the dominant majority
and dominant minority parties as determined by the Commission and the watcher
of the citizens' arm, with the latter being given preferential position closest to the
SBEI-PWD. In case there are two or more citizen's arm, the one authorized by the
Commission to conduct an unofficial count shall be given preference.
SECTION 9.
unless he:
(A)

Qualications of Watchers. No person shall be appointed watcher

Is a registered voter of the city or municipality;

HDICSa

(B)

Is of good reputation;

(C)

Has not been convicted by nal judgment of any election oense

or of any other crime;

(D)

Knows how to read and write Filipino, English or the prevailing

local dialect;

(E)

Is not related within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or

anity to the chairman or to any member of the SBEI-PWD in
the accessible polling place where he/she seeks appointment as
watcher; and

(F)

Is not a voter assigned in the accessible polling precinct.

SECTION 10.
Rights and Duties of Watchers. Upon entering the accessible
polling place, the watchers shall deliver to the chairman of the SBEI-PWD their
appointment as watchers, and their names shall forthwith record in the Minutes of
Voting with a notation under their signatures that they are not disqualied to serve
as such under the immediately preceding Section. The appointments of the
watchers shall bear the signature of the candidate or duly authorized representative
of the party, organization or coalition that appointed them. For this purpose, at least
fteen (15) days before election day, independent candidates, registered parties,
organizations, or coalitions authorized by the Commission to appoint watchers shall
provide the Election Ocers concerned with the names and signatures of their
representatives authorized to appoint watchers in the city or municipality and
special polling places in jail in said city/municipality.
The watchers shall have the right to:
(A)
(B)

Witness and inform themselves of the proceedings of the SBEIPWD;

Take note of what they may see or hear;

(C)

Take photographs of the proceedings and incidents, if any,

during the voting in the special polling places in jails;

(D)

File a protest against any irregularity or violation of law which

they believe may have been committed by the SBEI-PWD or by
any of its members or by any person; and

(E)

Obtain from the SBEI-PWD a certicate as to the ling of such

protest and the resolution thereof.

Watchers shall not speak to any member of the SBEI-PWD, or to any voter or
among themselves, in such manner as would disturb the proceedings of the SBEIPWD.
CTIDcA

SECTION 11.

Monitoring Groups, Observers and Media Representatives.

Monitoring groups duly accredited by the Commission shall be allowed access to the
accessible polling places to observe the proceedings; Provided, said groups present
the necessary identification to the SBEI-PWD.
Accredited media representatives and foreign observers shall also be allowed access
to the accessible polling places upon presentation of the necessary identication to
the SBEI-PWD.
SECTION 12.
Documentation and Communication Devices Allowed in Accessible
Polling Places. Watchers, members of the SBEI-PWD, SBEI-PWD support staff, and
COMELEC representatives shall be allowed to bring cameras, cellular phones and
laptops in the accessible polling places. Provided: These devices are to be used
exclusively for ocial documentation and communication purposes; Provided
further: That the secrecy of the ballots shall be respected at all times.
RULE V

Election Forms and Supplies

SECTION 1.
Election Forms, Documents and Supplies. Except when authorized
to do earlier by the Commission, the SBEI-PWD shall get the forms, documents and
supplies early in the morning of election day. The City/Municipal Treasurer shall
distribute the following forms, documents and supplies to the SBEI-PWD of the
accessible polling place of the city/municipality.
From the City/Municipal Treasurer
CEF No.

Description

Rate of Distribution

Election Forms
A12

Paper Seal
(No. of
Clustered
Precincts with
PWD voters ) x
(2)

Piece

TCIDSa

Expandable Envelopes
For the ballots from the
(No. of
precincts with PWD
Clustered
voters
Precincts with
PWD Voters ) x
(2)

Pieces

Other Forms
A30/A31
Temporary
10
appointment of
Chairman/Poll
Clerk/Third
Member/Support Staff

Pieces

A35

Certificate of Challenge
or Protest and Decision
of the SBEI-PWD.

10

A39

Oath of Voter

10

Pieces

Pieces

Challenge for Illegal

Acts
A40

Oath of Identification of
challenged Voter

10

Pieces

Supplies
Bond Paper (Long)

30

Ballot Secrecy Folder

22

Thumbprint Taker
Indelible Stain Ink

Pieces

Piece

Bottles

Instruction to Voters

Marking Pens

Ball pen

Pieces

Pieces

Piece

Boxes

From the Election Officer

a)

One set of the EDCVL-PWD for each accessible polling place;

b)

Copies of Appointment and Oath of Oce of the SBEI-PWD and

Support Staff (A5 & A5-A);

c)

Two sets of PCVL-PWD .

HSDIaC

The SBEI-PWD shall carefully check the dierent election forms, documents and
supplies and the quantity actually received. The SBEI-PWD shall sign a Certicate of
Receipt (A14) in three copies, the original of which shall be delivered to the
City/Municipal Treasurer, who shall transmit the same to the ERSD, COMELEC,
Manila, immediately after election day.
SECTION 2.
Forms to be Reproduced When Needed. The following forms may
be reproduced when needed:
(A)

Temporary Appointment of Chairman/Poll Clerk/Member (Annex

"A");

(B)

Certicate of Challenge or Protest and Decision of the BEI

(Annex "B");

(C)

Oath of Voter Challenged for Illegal Acts (Annex "C"); and

(D)

Oath to identify a challenged Voter (Annex "D").

RULE VI

Procedures of Voting
SECTION 1.
Date and Time of PWD Voting. Voting for all qualied PWDs shall
take place on the same date as the national and local elections is conducted.
SECTION 2.

Preliminaries to the Voting.

(A)
Regular Polling Places with PWD Voters: Before the voting in the regular
polling places, the Chairman of the BEI using the EDCVL-PWD as reference shall
annotate the PWDs' names in the EDCVL with "PWD voter" and shall ax his initial
beside the annotation. The number of PWD voters and the fact that their names
were annotated with "PWD" shall be entered into the Minutes of Voting.
AacDHE

Upon the arrival of the SBEI-PWD Support Sta, the Chairman of the BEI shall
count and segregate the ballots allocated for PWD voters in the presence of the
former and thereafter insert the same in a folder. The BEI shall place the folder
inside an envelope carried by the Support Sta and close the envelope. The BEI
shall then seal the envelope using the paper seal (also brought by the Support Sta
of the SBEI-PWD). The BEI shall ax their initials on the paper seal and turn it over
to the SBEI-PWD support staff.
The BEI shall then enter into the Minutes of Voting the name of the SBEI-PWD
Support Sta, the number of ballots received, the serial number of the paper seal of
the envelope and the time the latter picked up the ballots. The BEI shall require the
SBEI Support Sta to sign the entry. The chairman of the BEI shall then announce
to the public that the ballots of PWD voters shall be transferred by the SBEI-PWD
support staff to the accessible polling place.
Thereafter, the support sta shall immediately deliver the ballots to the accessible
polling place.
(B)
Accessible Polling Places: The SBEI-PWD and all the support sta shall meet
at the accessible polling place at six o'clock in the morning of election day.
The SBEI-PWD shall give to the support sta the envelopes [with one (1) paper
seal] for each clustered precinct with PWD voter/s in the voting center where the
latter is assigned. Upon receipt of the envelopes, the Support Sta shall leave the
accessible polling place escorted by the watchers and monitoring groups.
The SBEI-PWD shall ensure that the accessible polling place is ready for the voting.
i)

The SBEI-PWD shall ensure that a table shall be provided on

which the envelopes (per precinct) are placed and where PWDs
shall insert their accomplished ballots; and

ii)

The SBEI-PWD shall post the PCVL-PWD near or at the door of the
accessible polling place.
IAETSC

Upon the arrival of the envelopes, the chairman of the SBEI-PWD in the presence of
the other members, shall open the same and count the number of ballots. The fact
and time of arrival and the number of ballots shall be entered into the Minutes of
Voting. The chairman of the SBEI-PWD shall then announce to the public that the
ballots of PWD voters had been received.
SECTION 3.
(A)

Manner of Obtaining Ballots. The voter shall:

Look for his name in the PCVL-PWD posted near the door of the

voting center and determine his/her precinct number and

sequence number;
(B)

Approach the SBEI-PWD, give his/her name and address and

sequence number, together with the other data concerning
his/her person;

(C)

The SBEI-PWD shall verify if the name of the voter is in the

EDCVL-PWD. If the name of the PWD voter is in the EDCVL-PWD,
his/her identity shall then be established through the following:
i.

His/her photograph in the EDCVL-PWD or specimen

signatures in the Voters Registration Record (VRR) or any
authentic document which may establish his identity
except barangay certificate or community tax certificate; or

ii.

In the absence of any of the above-mentioned proof of

identity, any member of the SBEI-PWD may identify under
oath such voter, and such act shall be reected in the
Minutes of Voting.

iii.

If the SBEI-PWD is satised with his/her identity, the name

of the voter shall be distinctly announced in a tone loud
enough to be heard throughout the polling place.
Otherwise, the voter shall be directed to leave the
accessible polling place after informing the PWD the reason
thereof. If the voter is not challenged, or having been
challenged, the question has been decided in his favor, the
voter shall be allowed to vote.
aCTHDA

Such fact shall be duly recorded in the Minutes of Voting.

(D)

Before giving the ballot to the voter, the chairman of the SBEIPWD shall:
i.

Check if any of the ngernails of the voter has already been

stained with indelible ink. If stained, it shall be a conclusive
presumption that the voter has already cast his vote. As
such, the voter shall be directed to leave the polling place
after informing him the reason thereof. This fact, including
the name and the precinct of the voter, shall be recorded by
the Poll Clerk in the Minutes of Voting. The chairman must
also indicate the reason given by the voter why his/her
fingernails were stained with indelible ink;

ii.

After verifying that no nger nail has been stained, ax

his/her signature in the EDCVL-PWD;

iii.

Authenticate the ballot by axing his/her signature at the

designated space at the front thereof.

The failure to authenticate the ballot shall not invalidate the
ballot but shall constitute an election offense.
iv.

Instruct the voter on how to fill-up the ballot properly;

v.

Insert the ballot in the secrecy folder in such a manner that

its face is covered, except for the portion where the
signature in the ballot appears, and give the ballot to the
PWD voter.

Only the chairman of the SBEI-PWD shall issue the ocial ballots, and not more
than one ballot shall be issued at one time.
SECTION 4.
manner:

Manner of Voting. Voting shall be conducted in the following

aHSTID

(A)

The PWD shall accomplish the ballot, using the ballot secrecy
folder in accordance with the General Instructions for Voting;

(B)

After accomplishing his ballot, the voter shall then approach the
table where the envelope for his precinct is placed and insert the
same into the said envelope;

(C)

SBEI-PWD shall apply indelible ink at the base and extending to

the cuticle of the right forenger nail of the PWD voter, or any
other nail if there be no forefinger nail;

(D)

The voter shall ax his/her thumb mark on the corresponding

space in the EDCVL-PWD; and

(E)

The voter shall then leave the accessible polling place.

SECTION 5.
Challenge Against Illegal Voters. Any voter or watcher may
challenge any person offering to vote for:
(A)

Not being registered;

(B)

Using the name of another;

(C)

Suffering from any existing disqualification.

In such case, the SBEI-PWD shall satisfy itself as to whether or not the ground for
the challenge is true by requiring proof of registration, identity or qualication. The
SBEI-PWD shall identify the PWD through his photograph, ngerprint or specimen
signatures in the EDCVL-PWD. In the absence of any of the above-mentioned proof
of identity, any member of the SBEI-PWD may identify under oath a voter, and such
act shall be reflected in the Minutes of Voting.
SECTION 6.

Challenge Based on Certain Illegal Acts. Any watcher may

challenge any PWD offering to vote on the ground that the PWD voter:

cdphil

(A)

Received or expects to receive, paid, oered or promised to pay,

contributed or promised to contribute money or anything of value
as consideration for his vote or for the vote of another; or

(B)

Made or received a promise to inuence the giving or

withholding of any such vote; or

(C)

Made a bet or is interested directly or indirectly in a bet that

depends upon the results of the election.

In such case, the challenged PWD shall take an oath before the SBEI-PWD that he
has not committed any of the acts alleged in the challenge. Upon taking such oath,
the challenge shall be dismissed and the PWD shall be allowed to vote. In case the
PWD refuses to take such oath, the challenge shall be sustained and the PWD shall
not be allowed to vote.
SECTION 7.
Rules to be Observed during the Voting. During the voting, the
SBEI-PWD shall see to it that:
(A)

The PWD shall vote in a first-come first-served basis;

(B)

No watcher shall enter the place reserved for the PWDs and the
SBEI-PWD, nor mingle and talk with the voters;

(C)

No person carrying any rearm or any other deadly weapon,

except those expressly authorized by the Resolution or by the
Commission, shall enter the accessible polling place.

SECTION 8.

Prohibition on Voting. It shall be unlawful for a voter to:

(A)

Bring the ballot, ballot secrecy folder or marking pen outside the
polling place;

(B)

Speak with anyone other than as herein provided while inside

the accessible polling place;

(C)

Prepare his ballot without using the ballot secrecy folder or

exhibit its contents;
TEaADS

(D)

Erase any printing from the ballot, or put any distinguishing

mark on the ballot;

(E)

Use carbon paper, paran paper or other means of making a

copy of the contents of the ballot, or otherwise make use of any
scheme to identify his vote, including the use of digital cameras,
cellular phones with camera or similar gadgets; and

(F)

Intentionally tear or deface the ballot.

SECTION 9.
Sealing of the Envelopes Per Precinct. After all the PWD voters in a
particular precinct have already voted, the chairman in the presence of the SBEIPWD shall:
(A)

Count the used and unused ballots, if there are any, and
separately record in the Minutes of Voting the quantity of used
and unused ballots indicating therein the Precinct Number of the
ballots;

(B)

Tear the unused ballots in half lengthwise and insert them in

the envelopes containing the filled-up ballots;

(C)

Close the envelope containing the accomplished ballots and seal

with paper seal bearing the initials of the SBEI-PWD;

(D)

Hand over the sealed envelope to the support sta for counting
to the regular polling place; and

(E)

Record in the Minutes of Voting the time, serial number of paper

seal and such other necessary information as to the receipt of the
support sta of sealed envelope/s containing the ballots and have
it signed by the support staff concerned;

(F)

Announce to the public that the accomplished ballots with the

torn unused ballots, if there is any, shall be transferred by the
support staff to the regular polling places.
AEIHaS

SECTION 11.
Disposition of Election Documents. The SBEI-PWD shall deliver to
the Election Ocer the accomplished Certication/Attestation by Assistor with
Supplementary Data, EDCVL-PWD, the PCVL-PWD and other election paraphernalia.
SECTION 12.
Counting of the PWD Voters' Ballots. The SBEI-PWD support sta
shall ensure that all ballots of PWD voters reach the regular polling places where
the PWDs are registered not later than 30 minutes after the last voter has voted.
When the SBEI-PWD support sta reaches the regular polling place, the BEI shall
enter into the Minutes of Voting the receipt of the sealed envelope and announce to
the public that the accomplished ballots of PWDs and torn unused ballots, if there is
any, from the accessible polling place have been received. The BEI will open the
envelope only when all the voters in the clustered precincts have nished voting,
and, thereafter, the chairman of the BEI, in the presence of the other members and
watchers shall feed the PWD voters' ballots to the machine for counting. Half of the
torn unused ballots shall be inserted in the envelope (A15) that will be submitted to
the Election Ocer for safekeeping, half to the other envelope (A15) that will be
deposited inside the ballot box. Said fact shall be entered into the Minutes of Voting.
RULE VII

Miscellaneous Provisions

SECTION 1.
Repealing Clause. All other resolutions inconsistent with the
provisions embodied in this resolution are hereby repealed.
SECTION 2.
Effectivity. This resolution shall take eect on the fth (5th) day
after its publication in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the
Philippines.
SECTION 3.
Publication and Dissemination. Let the Education and Information
Department of this Commission cause the publication of this Resolution in two (2)
daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines and furnish copies thereof
to all Regional Election Directors, Provincial Election Supervisors, Election Ocers,
Board of Election Inspectors and the Special Board of Election Inspectors for PWDs.
SO ORDERED.

aTDcAH

(SGD.) SIXTO S. BRILLANTES, JR.

Chairman
(SGD.) RENE V. SARMIENTO

Commissioner
(SGD.) LUCENITO N. TAGLE

Commissioner
(SGD.) ARMANDO C. VELASCO

Commissioner
(SGD.) ELIAS R. YUSOPH

Commissioner
(SGD.) CHRISTIAN ROBERT S. LIM

Commissioner