Key Definitions
- Election: Process of electing directors by secret ballot per district.
- Board of Directors: Policy-making body composed of district representatives.
- Voter: Bona fide member-consumer qualified to vote.
- Resident: Member residing in a district for at least one year before elections.
- Juridical Person: Firms, corporations, associations, or local government units.
- Joint Membership: Husband and wife membership as per EC by-laws.
- Member-Consumer: Natural or juridical persons with membership rights under PD 269 and related laws.
- Master List: Official roster of bona fide members with details for election purposes.
- Voting Center: Designated site for Board elections.
- Election Precinct: Assigned area within voting centers where registration and voting occur.
- Screening Committee (SC): Reviews qualifications of candidates.
- District Election Committee (DECOM): Supervises the election in particular districts.
- Precinct Election Committee (PECOM): Deputized by DECOM for precinct-level election management.
Election Scheduling and Special Elections
- The EC Board calls regular elections 90-120 days before the Annual Meeting via a board resolution.
- Election date must be 30-60 days before the Annual Meeting for expiring board terms.
- Special elections fill vacancies if unexpired terms are 2 years or more; otherwise appointment by Board with NEA confirmation.
- The master list from the preceding election is used for special/postponed elections.
- Board may stagger terms allowing partial elections annually.
Postponement and Failure of Election
- DECOM may postpone elections due to serious causes such as violence or force majeure, subject to NEA supervisor affirmation.
- Postponement must not exceed 20 days and re-scheduling must comply with procedural requirements.
- If the Board fails to call elections, NEA may conduct elections; failure to meet quorum results in another election within 30 days.
- Lone candidates require only one vote to win.
Notice Requirements
- Written notices specifying election details and filing deadlines must be posted 20 days before elections and also sent to DECOM members.
Qualifications for Directors and Officers
- Must be Filipino, aged 21-70, with a four-year degree.
- Resident member-consumer in the district for at least 2 years.
- Good moral character with clearances from government or religious authorities.
- Member in good standing for 5 years with no unsettled obligations.
- No apprehension or removal for cause related to electric pilferage or EC employment.
- Attendance in at least 2 annual assemblies in last 5 years.
- Qualified government employees need certification to run.
- Must maintain qualifications throughout term; no hold-over allowed if disqualified.
Disqualifications
- Holding public office or spouse holding such office especially at SG 16 or above.
- Candidates in last local or national election.
- Convicted of crime involving moral turpitude.
- Terminated from public or private employment for cause.
- Related within fourth degree to key EC officials.
- Financial interest in competing enterprises or businesses dealing with EC.
- EC employees cannot be candidates for another EC's Board.
- Disqualification of one spouse affects the other.
Eligibility and Voting Rights
- Juridical persons cannot be candidates but have one vote.
- Members entitled to one vote only regardless of connections.
- Joint memberships allow only one member to vote.
Filing and Screening of Certificate of Candidacy
- Filing is mandatory for election candidacy.
- Filing must be done ten days before election with required documents.
- Screening Committee reviews qualifications based on official records.
- Protest against disqualification must be filed five days before election.
- Decisions of Screening Committee are appealable to NEA Deputy Administrator within 24 hours.
- Appeals require a filing fee and must follow procedural requirements.
- Qualified candidates posted three days before election.
- Withdrawal requires sworn statement filed at least one day before election.
Term of Office
- Regular members serve for three years and may be re-elected twice consecutively.
- Special election winners serve unexpired term only.
- Directors who resign per NEA memorandum may not be reappointed.
- Directors completing nine years are ineligible for appointment to vacancies.
Prohibited Acts of Candidates
- Pay-to-vote or vote buying.
- Entering voting center perimeter except to cast vote.
- Use of intimidation or harassment of voters.
- Violations lead to disqualification.
Election Watchers
- Each candidate entitled to one watcher per precinct.
- Watchers must be bona fide members and not related within 4th degree to PECOM members.
- Watchers appointed in writing and acknowledged by DECOM.
- Watchers have the right to observe voting and certify results.
Member-Consumer Eligibility
- Only members approved 90 days before election included in master list and allowed to vote.
- Master list prepared 25 days before election, verified and posted for correction.
- Failure to correct exclusion during verification period waives voting rights.
- Registration on election day mandatory to vote.
Voting Centers and Precincts
- Established within districts ensuring accessibility.
- Additional centers created if needed for convenience.
- Precincts established based on residence and membership density.
- Ballot boxes and tally boards provided and managed by election committees.
Election Committees
- DECOM appointed 20 days before election by NEA-IDD from coop nominees, composed of chairman, secretary, member plus alternates.
- Sub-DECOMs may be formed for multiple voting centers.
- DECOM supervises all election committees and canvasses results.
- PECOM composed of chairman, poll clerk, and member, manages registration, voting, counting per precinct.
- Members must be bona fide members at least 21 years old; EC employees may serve except as PECOM chairman.
- Relatives of candidates or incumbent board members within 3rd degree disqualified from committee service.
- Committees receive per diem allowance.
- Terms expire after proclamation or protest resolution.
Ballot and Voting Procedures
- Official ballots uniform, with detachable numbered stub, printed by cooperative.
- Voting from 8 AM to 3 PM or extended if voters are waiting.
- Committee opens and locks ballot boxes, handled publicly.
- Members register, vote personally; proxy voting prohibited.
- Only authorized persons allowed inside precinct.
- Voters fill ballot writing candidate's name; no discussion or display allowed.
- Assistance allowed for illiterate or disabled voters.
- Spoiled ballots replaced with record keeping.
- Voters affix thumb mark, ballots collected and stubs detached publicly.
- Challenges to voter identity resolved on evidence by PECOM before voting.
- PECOM prepares detailed minutes of voting and counting.
Vote Counting and Canvassing
- Counting is public and continuous; DECOM may postpone due to emergencies.
- Tie resolved by DECOM via term sharing (if agreed) or lot/coin toss, final decision.
- Ballots counted aloud, votes recorded on returns and tally boards.
- Rules for valid votes clarify counting for nicknames, partial names, erasures, illegible entries, stray votes, etc.
- PECOM prepares three copies of election returns.
- Returns and documents sealed in envelopes, distributed to DECOM and EC files.
- DECOM canvasses returns, posts results publicly, proclaims winners.
Election Protest Procedures
- DECOM has jurisdiction over post-election protests, filed within 3 days after proclamation.
- Filing fee from PhP50,000 to PhP100,000 required.
- DECOM decides protests within 15 days; decisions appealable to NEA Committee on Electoral Protest.
- Appeal requires PhP100,000 fee, submitted to a committee including NEA directors and PHILRECA/NAGMEC representatives as amici curiae.
- Decisions communicated to parties and NEA.
Final Provisions
- Guidelines issued under PD No. 269 and amendments, RA 10531.
- They do not abrogate prior term limits policies.
- Previous inconsistent provisions repealed or modified.
- Effective 15 days after filing or publication.