Establishment and Composition of Board of Election Inspectors
- Boards of Election Inspectors (BEI) must be constituted at least 10 days before registration.
- Each BEI consists of a Chairman and two members, preferably public school teachers registered as voters; if unavailable, private teachers or reputable citizens may be appointed.
- Members receive a per diem of Fifty Pesos per day of service.
Qualifications and Registration Process
- Eligible voters must possess all qualifications and none of the disqualifications for voting.
- Persons not yet meeting age or residence requirements on registration day may register upon proof they will qualify at the plebiscite date.
- Registration requires the voter to fill out a sworn affidavit with personal details, including name, birth, citizenship, residence, and a non-duplication statement.
- The affidavit includes three specimen signatures and fingerprints.
- BEI members administer the oath and verify completeness and accuracy.
Voter Identification and Lists
- Upon registration, qualified voters are entered in alphabetical order in the list of voters.
- Voters receive an identification card with their details and precinct number.
- The ID card is the primary identification document, with affidavit signatures and fingerprints as secondary proof if the ID is challenged or unavailable.
- No duplicate ID cards are issued without express COMELEC authorization.
Preparation, Closing, and Preservation of Voter Lists
- BEIs hold four meetings to prepare alphabetical voter lists in eight copies.
- The fourth Saturday before the plebiscite, lists are closed with inclusions/exclusions per court orders noted.
- Omitted persons as ordered by court may vote upon presenting certified court orders even on plebiscite day.
- Voter affidavits are preserved by BEIs then delivered to Election Registrars and further filed centrally for use if local records are lost.
- Provincial and National Central Files maintained of voter affidavits, compiled alphabetically.
Form and Content of Voter Lists
- Voter lists include numbered entries with surname, full name, residence, birth date, residence periods, ballot number, thumbmark, voter signature, and BEI chairman's signature.
- Lists are properly certified and closed after each meeting.
Publication and Accessibility of Voter Lists
- After registration closes, certified copies of the voter lists are distributed to the Election Registrar, Provincial Election Supervisor, COMELEC central office, and posted publicly at polling places.
- BEI members keep copies accessible to the public.
Challenge and Adjudication of Registration
- Any applicant's registration may be challenged by voters or BEI members.
- BEI has powers to administer oaths and issue subpoenas to determine right to register.
- Challenges are decided within two days by majority vote of BEI.
Judicial Review of Inclusion and Exclusion
- Municipal and Metropolitan Trial Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over inclusion and exclusion cases.
- Decisions must be rendered within ten days; appeals to Regional Trial Courts are likewise expedited.
- No motions for reconsideration allowed; non-compliance with deadlines by judges may incur administrative sanctions.
Petitions for Inclusion, Exclusion, and Corrections
- Procedures and timelines for filing petitions with courts for registration disputes outlined.
- Petitioners must serve notice on BEI and challenged voters.
- Inadvertent omissions or misspelled names may be corrected by court order.
- Name changes due to marriage or court order may be requested with BEI.
Procedural Rules for Judicial Proceedings
- Petitions limited to one precinct each.
- Notices must be properly served with time and place of hearing.
- Proceedings are expedited with decisions within six hours after hearing.
- Costs generally not imposed except for vexatious filings.
- Non-appearance of challenged voter is prima facie evidence that such voter is fictitious.
Verification and Annulment of Lists
- Post-plebiscite verification of voter registration through canvassing to identify potential exclusions.
- Lists obtained via fraud, forgery, intimidation, or other irregularities may be annulled by COMELEC after notice and hearing.
- Re-registration may be ordered for affected precincts.
- Annulment orders cannot be executed within 30 days before the plebiscite.
Reconstitution and Examination of Records
- Lost or destroyed registration records shall be reconstituted using provincial or national files.
- Registered voters may be summoned to fill new applications if reconstitution is not feasible.
- Registration records are open to public examination during regular office hours.
- Law enforcement access requires COMELEC prior authorization.
Posting and Certified Copies of Final Lists
- Final lists must be posted immediately after revision day and duly certified and sworn to by BEI members.
- Failure to comply constitutes an election offense.
- Voters may request certified copies upon payment of fees.
Applicability of Other Laws and Security of Registration Papers
- Portions of the Omnibus Election Code applicable to registration, boards, offenses, and court procedures are adopted unchanged.
- COMELEC controls the printing, storage, and distribution of registration materials, employing security measures.
Appropriations and Funding
- Three hundred seventy five million pesos appropriated from COMELEC's current budget and savings to implement these provisions.
- Additional funds available from special activities fund if necessary.
Effectivity
- The Executive Order takes effect immediately upon issuance.