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[Click here to see the diagram of Voting/Pollwatching Process]

Vigilant citizens’ action is vital to achieve meaningful elections.

Accredited citizen’s arms, therefore, should encourage as many
citizens as possible to be involved in pollwatching. Volunteers cannot
guard the polls alone. There is strength and safety in numbers. All
volunteers must adhere to the basic tenet of non-partisanship.

A pollwatcher must know his duties and responsibilities such

as:

1. To establish rapport with the Board of Election Inspector (BEI),

COMELEC representatives, and other pollwatchers, etc., with support
papers to identify himself (proper ID and copy of COMELEC
accreditation).
2. To bring things that he can use for recording incidents and
anomalies, and things he can use in case of power interruptions.
3. Also, in order to carry out his duties and responsibilities as a
pollwatcher, he must be well informed of the procedures and
requirements before the voting begins which is at 7:00 a.m. and after
the closing time which is at 3:00 p.m.

He must also be well-informed of the process of the counting of votes,

seeing to it that the right procedure is observed until it is finished.
Then, he must see to it that corresponding documents are sealed and
put in their proper places, and delivered to the concerned agencies,
including the ballot box.

The pollwatcher has to be VIGILANT. Whenever he observes anomaly

during actual voting and counting of votes, he must call the attention
of the BEI, and if necessary, he must request the BEI to refer the
matter to the representatives from legal, para legal desk or COMELEC
representatives.

PHASES OF POLLWATCHING

The task of pollwatching may be easier to understand if it is divided

into three phases :

Before Election Day

During Election Day (May 11, 1998)
Before the Voting (6:30 – 7:00 a.m.)
During the Voting (7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
Counting of Votes (3:00 p.m. to completion)
After the Counting
After Election Day

Activities BEFORE Election Day

The first task of a pollwatcher is to encourage as many citizens as

possible to guard the polls with him. The key message is that guarding
the polls is the responsibility of all citizens.
Attend the briefing to be conducted by the pollwatcher school
chairperson (in this case, the PPCRV school chairperson) before
Election Day.
If possible, familiarize yourself with the Omnibus Election Code.
Familiarize yourself with how cheating is done.

Activities DURING Election Day

BEFORE the Voting

Report to your post at 6:30 a.m. wearing your pollwatcher’s ID. Check
that you have with you the following forms and supplies:
a. Pollwatching Manual
b. Ballpen
c. Notebook or paper
d. Camera with film & flashbulb (if available)
e. Flashlights or candles (for afternoon/evening shift)

Present yourself to the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) Chairman.

Stay in the space provided for the reserved for watchers. Do not talk
with any BEI member (unless making a protest or challenge), nor with
any other watcher or voter, in a manner that may disturb the
proceedings.
Verify the quantity and serial numbers of the official ballots and
election returns and the supply of indelible ink in the possession of the
Board of Election Inspectors.

Bring to the attention of the BEI if:

• any election material is destroyed, substituted or taken away

• propaganda or campaign materials are inside the polling place
or within 30 meters. Even party watchers are not allowed to
wear or display campaign materials.
• the ballot box is not opened and turned upside down to show
that its two compartments are empty before being locked with
three (3) padlocks.
 • the official ballots are not wrapped and sealed, and contain
writings or marks.
• the physical layout of the polling place does not allow voters to
vote in privacy.

DURING the Voting

Bring to the attention of the BEI when:

• electioneering, campaigning or influencing of voters takes place

inside the polling place or within 100 meters
• voters whose names do not appear in the certified list of voters
(except those with court inclusion orders) are allowed to vote
• persons use the name of other persons in the list of voters
• a person whose finger is already stained with indelible ink is
allowed o vote
• a voter is allowed to leave the polling place without his finger
stained with indelible ink
• you have a reasonable ground to believe that a certain person is
a flying voter

In this case, you may:

• Request the BEI Chairperson to require the challenged voter to

present his voter’s ID or voter’s affidavit. Make sure that serial
numbers of the IDs and affidavit are in order.
• Request the chairman to verify the voter’s signature through the
records
• Make sure that the challenge is recorded regardless of what
happens to the challenge form the poll clerk. Get a certificate of
challenge from the poll clerk.

Closing of Voting
Be exceptionally vigilant when closing time is near because it is
usually during this period when many flying voters will try to vote.
Call the attention of the BEI when:

• Voting is not stopped at exactly 4:00 p.m. except for voters

within 30 meters who can still cast their votes after the poll clerk
has listed down their names and secured their signatures.
• If the chairman of the BEI does not publicly tear in half all
unused ballots immediately after the close of voting. The unused
form ballots should not be thrown but kept later in the ballot box.

Counting of Votes
Call the attention of the BEI when:
 • A vote written on the ballot is not read
• A vote other than what is written is read
• A ballot which contains the name of the party is counted since
block voting is no longer allowed
• Ballots for counting are substituted
• Omission, substitutions, and additions in the recording of Votes
on the tally board and the election returns occur.
• There is a deliberate misrecording in the tally sheets as the
votes are read.
• Votes reflected in the tally sheet are miscopied in the election
returns.
• Votes credited to a candidate in the election returns are
substituted with the votes of another candidate.
• There is deliberate distortion of the election entries in the
election returns after the counting.
• There is insertion in any of the election returns after the
counting.
• There is insertion in any of the election returns a blank sheet of
paper. This is done so that one or some of the election returns
will be left blank or inaccurately reflected in the tally.
Inconsistent tallies confuse the totals and the blanks can be
improperly filled in later.

AFTER the Counting

This is a crucial stage in the election. DO NOT LEAVE the premises
until you have done the following:
1. Make sure that no alterations are made on the election returns after
the results are proclaimed. Corrections or alterations made before the
proclamations should be initialled by all the members of the BEI.
2. Make sure that after the election returns are signed and
thumbmarked in full view of the public by the members of the Board all
of the six copies are sealed in your presence, placed in separate
envelopes which are again sealed.
3. Observe how the envelopes containing the election returns are
distributed. The six copies are supposed to be distributed and
designated as follows:

1) 1st copy – Municipal Board of Canvassers

2) 2nd copy – Senate President
3) 3rd copy – COMELEC
4) 4th copy – Dominant Majority Party
5) 5th copy – Dominant Minority Party
6) 6th copy – NAMFREL
7) 7th copy – Ballot Box
1. When all the votes are counted, check the addition of votes. In the
election return, the grand totals for each candidate must be written in
figures, which must match each other.
After all votes are read, the ballots are then placed in an envelope
which is then signed, closed and deposited in the compartment for
valid ballots.
2. Make sure that the information in the election returns is correct.
3. Thank the BEI for their cooperation.
4. Submit immediately your poll watchers report to your school
chairperson.

When you have done the above:

1. Accompany the two copies of election returns intended for the
Municipal Board of Canvassers until they reach the proper office. Be
on the lookout for attempts to substitute or steal the return. This is the
most efficient way of cheating because in one stroke many votes can
be changed.

2. Watch carefully when the Election Registrar puts the election

returns from various polling places in a special ballot box intended for
delivery to the Provincial Election Supervisor. MAKE SURE THE BALLOT
BOX IS EMPTY before any return is placed therein. Do not lose sight of
that ballot box.

3. In accompanying the ballot box containing the election returns as it

is transported to the proper office, plan out in advance the vehicle and
routes to be used. Assign specific watchers for specific boxes to watch
the returns in transit.

Activities AFTER Election Day

1. Watch the room where the election returns are kept and guard
against any suspicious entry and exits.
2. Attend the canvassing. Make sure that the election returns are read
properly and conform to your copy. It should start and go on
continuously.

Even with the election watchdogs, teachers and Board of Election

Inspectors (BEI), there is a great need for poll watchers to observe and
guard the election process and most especially the canvassing of votes
cast to prevent fraud.

With only 48 hours before the first ever automated elections in the
country, what will the poll watchers do in an AES election?
Based on the University of the Philippines’ Law Center and Parish
Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV)’s handbook on AES
elections:

• Who has the capability to assign a poll watcher?

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) registered candidates and

political parties are entitled to appoint a poll watcher for each precinct.
Accredited citizens’ arm such as PPCRV and National Citizens’
Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) are also capable to select a
poll watcher on their behalf.

National and local candidates of the same ticket or slate are entitled to
have one poll watcher in every precinct.

Citizens’ arm organizations are entitled to one poll watcher in each

polling precinct. COMELEC authorized civil, professional, business,
youth, service and other organizations are also entitled to a poll
watcher in each polling place.

All these watchers are allowed inside the polling precinct. However,
when the polling place is already cramped and all watchers cannot be
accommodated, watchers from the authorized citizens’ arm are given
the first slot in poll watching, next is the watcher from the majority
party then the watcher from the minority party.

• Who are capable in becoming a poll watcher?

People are entitled to become a poll watcher if he or she is a registered

voter in the city or municipality comprising the precinct in which he or
she is assigned.

He or she should have a good reputation.

The assigned poll watcher should have no election offense, haven’t

been convicted of any crime.

He or she should know how to read and write Filipino, English or any of
the local dialects.

The poll watcher should not be related to any candidate within the
fourth civil degree by consanguinity or affinity to the chairman or to
any other member of the BEI in his assigned polling precinct.

• What are the procedures the poll watchers undergo to

officially do their tasks?
Authorized independent candidates, political parties, citizens’ arm and
other organizations are to file the list of their poll watchers at least 15
days before May 10, election day.

The poll watchers should submit a signed proof from their respective
organizations to the BEI assigned in the polling precinct.

The BEI chairman will list the poll watchers in the election minutes with
a notation under the poll watchers’ signatures implying that they are
qualified to serve as such.

• What are the poll watchers’ tasks and rights?

Poll watchers have the right to observe the election proceedings. He or

she is capable of taking notes, recording, or even take pictures of the
voting process, counting of votes cast, even the generated election
return and the ballot boxes.

Watchers are entitled to file a complaint or protest against the

chairman or any member of the BEI if irregularity or by any person in
the election process is noticed.

A copy of the election return is to be given to the poll watcher from the
majority and minority party with affixed signature and thumb marks of
the BEI and the poll watchers.

Watchers have the right to stay in the precinct/room where the ballot
boxes are kept after the canvassing of ballots.

• What are the Do’s and Don’ts for a poll watcher in a

polling precinct?

Poll watchers are not allowed to speak to the members of the BEI, to
the voters or even among themselves to avoid disruption of the BEI
proceedings. They are to stay in the area designated for the watchers,
mingling is not allowed.

• On what basis will the watcher be entitled to protest

against a voter?

If the voter is not registered, or is using a name that is not his or hers
the poll watcher can challenge the voter in a complaint.

Also, if the voter is proven to be disqualified from voting, if he or she

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 . Or if the
voter made a bet or is involved in a bet that depends on the election
results.

• What responsibilities are to be given to the watcher to

further preserve a fraud-free AES election other than on
the voting process itself?

Before the voting proceedings, the poll watcher should record the
serial number of the seals in each ballot box. They should constantly
check if the serial number of the seal in the ballot boxes remain the
same during the casting of votes as well as the sealing of the boxes.

Poll watchers should observe the initialization of the Precinct Count

Optical Scan (PCOS) machine, he or she should sign the initialization
ER (Election Returns).

Scrutinize the counting of votes, transmission and printing of ERs.

After the voting process, the poll watchers should affix their signatures
on the ERs. They should observe the disposition of the PCOS, ballot
boxes, keys, ERs and other documents even after the termination of
the counting of votes cast and finally the announcement of the results
in the precinct.

Lastly, the poll watcher should accompany the BEI when the latter
delivers the ballot box to the city or municipal treasurer.