Cebu Citizens-Press Council

RULES AND REGULATIONS ON LOCAL ABSENTEE VOTING IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAY 13, 2013 SYNCHRONIZED NATIONAL, LOCAL, AND ARMM REGIONAL ELECTIONS, AND SUBSEQUENT NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS THEREAFTER.

Promulgation: February 13, 2013

SECTION 2. Who are entitled to avail of local absentee voting. – Local absentee voting may be availed of by the following:

d) members of the media, media practitioners including their technical and support staff who are actively engaged in the pursuit of information gathering and reporting or distribution, in any manner or form, including, but not limited to the following:

1. Print Journalists;
2. Television Journalists;
3. Photo Journalists;
4. Online Journalists;
5. Radio Journalists;
6. Documentary makers;
7. Television/Radio Production;

Provided that a) they are duly registered voters, and b) on election day, in case of government officials, members of the PNP and AFP, they are assigned temporarily to perform election duties in places where they are not registered voters; or in case of media voters, they will not be able to vote due to the performance of their functions in covering and reporting the conduct of elections.

SEC. 3. Where and when to file the application forms to avail of the local absentee voting. – Applicants who will avail of the local absentee voting shall file their duly accomplished application forms (LAV Form No. 01) at the following:

APPLICANT/S
For government officials and employees, members of the AFP, and members of the PNP

WHEN TO FILE
Not later than March 15, 2013

WHERE TO FILE
Before their heads of offices/supervisors/commanders

APPLICANT/S
For members of media, media practitioners including their technical and support staff

WHEN TO FILE
Not later than March 31, 2013

WHERE TO FILE
a) Offices of the Provincial Election Supervisor (OPES)
b) Office of the Regional Election Director (ORED) of the National Capital Region (NCR)
c) Office of the City Election Officer (OCEO) in case of highly urbanized or independent cities except cities in the NCR.

Highly Urbanized Cities
1. Baguio City
2. Angeles City
3. Olongapo City
4. Lucena City
5. Puerto Princesa City
6. Iloilo City
7. Bacolod City
8. Cebu City
9. Mandaue City
10. Lapu-Lapu City
11. Tacloban City
12. Zamboanga City
13. Iligan City
14. Cagayan de Oro City
15. Davao City
16. Gen. Santos City
17. Butuan City

Independent Cities
1. Santiago City
2. Naga City
3. Ormoc City
4. Cotabato City

In cities where there is more than one (1) Office of City Election Officer (OCEO), the Regional Election Director (RED) shall immediately designate not later than February 18, 2013 the OCEO which shall receive the applications to avail of the local absentee voting.

SEC. 4. Date and Place of Voting. – Local absentee voters shall vote any day from April 28, 29 and 30, 2013 from 8:00 o’clock in the morning until 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon under the direct supervision and presence of the Municipal/City/District EO or his representative; or the PES or his representative; or the Regional Election Director (RED)-NCR or his representative.

In the case of media voters, voting shall be at the COMELEC Office where they filed their applications to avail of the local absentee voting.

SEC. 5. Positions to be voted for. – For the May 13, 2013 Synchronized National, Local and ARMM Regional Elections, only the positions of Senators and Party-List Representative shall be voted for under the local absentee voting.

For subsequent elections, the positions with national constituencies shall be voted for under the local absentee voting.

SEC. 8. Procedures for filing of applications to avail of local absentee voting. –

1. All persons who may avail of the local absentee voting as provided under Sec. 2 hereof shall file their duty accomplished and sworn application forms (LAV Form No. 01) as provided for under Sec. 3 hereof.

The application forms may be reproduced or downloaded from the official COMELEC website at www.comelec.gov.ph.

The a) PNP, AFP, DepEd and other government entities and instrumentalities concerned shall certify that the applicant is a bona fide member/employee of the agency and on election day the applicant is assigned outside the place where he is a registered voter; or b) the media entity or corporation to which the applicant is employed shall certify that the applicant is a bona fide employee and may not be able to vote due to the performance of his functions in covering and reporting the conduct of elections.

SEC. 10. Disapproval of the application to avail of local absentee voting. – The application to avail of local absentee voting shall be disapproved on the following grounds:

1. That the applicant is not a registered voter or his registration records have been deactivated;
2. That it was filed out of time;
3. That it was not sworn to or otherwise not under oath by any person authorized to administer oath;
4. That it is only a photocopy/facsimile copy; or
5. The Certification portion of the application form is not duly accomplished.

SEC. 14. Manner of Voting. – The local absentee voter shall:

1. Fill up the ballot secretly;
2. Imprint his thumbmark on the proper space in the detachable coupon of the ballot;
3. Detach the coupon from the ballot and place the same inside the outer envelope;
4. Place the accomplished ballot inside the inner envelope and close and seal the envelope with a paper seal;
5. Place the sealed inner envelope inside the outer envelope, which shall likewise be sealed with a paper seal;
6. Write his name and signature on the space provided for in the outer envelope; and
7. Submit the sealed envelope to the head of office/supervisor/commander, PES concerned or RED-NCR, as the case may be.

All applicants, whose applications to avail of the local absentee voting have been approved but failed to vote on the scheduled voting for local absentee on April 28, 29,  30, 2013, may cast their votes in their respective polling places on election day.

In case of double or multiple voting, the applicant shall be charged with an election offense as defined under paragraph z, subparagraph 2 of Sec. 261 of the Omnibus Election Code and shall be recommended to be administratively charged, if applicable.

Source: Commission on Elections