QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 8189)
PD 1187 aims to provide an accurate and complete listing of all qualified voters to ensure free, orderly, and honest elections, plebiscites, and referenda, and to address common election-day problems such as locating polling places and identifying voters.
A qualified voter must be duly registered as such to entitle him to cast his vote in any election, plebiscite, or referendum.
It is conducted in all voting centers throughout the Philippines on dates to be fixed by law, but not later than the end of October 1977.
Notwithstanding the general registration, any qualified voter may still register under the permanent and continuing system provided in Presidential Decree No. 1099 (Feb. 25, 1977).
Any Philippine citizen, not otherwise disqualified by law, who is at least eighteen years old, has resided in the Philippines for at least one year, and in the city/municipality/municipal district where he proposes to vote for at least six months immediately preceding the election.
He may appear before the citizens election committee accompanied by a person of his confidence (preferably a relative within the fourth civil degree) who prepares the application based on the applicant’s data, and the applicant must affix the thumbmarks of both left and right hands in the presence of the committee.
(a) Persons sentenced by final judgment to suffer imprisonment for not less than one year, unless disability is removed by plenary pardon; they automatically reacquire the right to vote upon expiration of ten years after service unless re-sentenced for not less than one year within that period. (b) Persons adjudged by final judgment to have violated their oath of allegiance. (c) Insane or feeble-minded persons. (d) Persons suffering temporary special disqualifications from exercising suffrage under existing law.
At least ten days before registration day, the Commission appoints a committee composed of: a chairman, a poll clerk, and a third member. The chairman and poll clerk must be public school teachers; the third member is a barangay council member proposed by the barangay captain.
He must be of good moral character and irreproachable reputation, a qualified voter of the municipality, never convicted of any election offense or of any other crime punishable by more than six months of imprisonment, and without pending case against him on information for any election offense. He must also know how to speak and write English or the local dialect.
They: (a) undertake voter registration as authorized, (b) act as deputies of the Commission to supervise and control registration to assure it is free, orderly, and honest, and (c) perform other functions prescribed by the decree or rules and regulations of the Commission.
The applicant must personally appear before the committee in the nearest voting center to his residence, sign under oath in triplicate, and affix thumbmarks of both hands. The application must include: name/surname/middle maternal surname; date and place of birth; citizenship; sector (if any); periods of residence; exact address; a statement of qualifications and non-disqualification; and a statement that he has not applied for registration elsewhere.
If not known to committee members, the applicant may be identified by any voter of the barangay or by production of any paper or document showing identity.
Upon approval, the committee forthwith issues a certificate of registration to the voter. If disapproved, it denies the application (and disapproved applications are later sent to the election registrar to be placed in the inactive file).
The certificate serves as identification of the registered voter, but the voter is not required to present it on election day if his identity is shown by other records or finger prints in the approved application in the precinct book, or if identified under oath by a member of the election committee or by a duly accredited watcher.
An applicant may be challenged before the committee on a registration day by a committee member, watcher, or member of the barangay concerned. The committee must examine the challenged person, receive pertinent evidence, and decide whether to register the person, hearing all challenges without delay and in any case within one hour after receiving the evidence.
Qualified organizations may designate one watcher per registration center under written authority. Watchers may observe, note proceedings, file protests against irregularities (with a certificate of filing and resolution upon request), but may not speak to committee members or voters or to each other in a manner that interrupts or disturbs proceedings.
The provisions of RA 6388 on inclusion and exclusion apply. Petitions must be filed no later than ten days after the last day of registration, and in no case later than five days before the day of any election, plebiscite, or referendum.
City and municipal courts have jurisdiction to issue warrants of arrest and try and decide criminal actions for offenses under the decree. Appeals follow the normal rules for criminal cases.