Law Summary
Eligibility for Registration
- Persons who meet voter qualifications and have no disqualifications may register.
- Domicile requirement must be met at election date; proof may allow earlier registration.
Appointment and Role of Election Registrar
- Each locality must have at least one election registrar and a clerk appointed by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
- Salaries are determined by COMELEC position classification.
- For areas with 4,000 or fewer voters, COMELEC may appoint alternative registrars or assign treasurers with additional pay.
- Local councils must provide office space.
Qualifications for Election Registrar
- Registrars should be Philippine Bar members.
- If unavailable, law, liberal arts, or education graduates who are civil service eligibles may be appointed.
Voter Registration Process
- Registrants must appear personally within 60 days of qualification and apply via sworn application in triplicate.
- Registration deadlines: 60 days before regular elections and 30 days before special elections.
- Failure to register timely disqualifies voting in the immediate election.
Contents of Registration Application
- Includes personal data, citizenship, address, qualifications, disqualification status, previous registrations, fingerprint prints, and signature specimens.
- Government bears photo expenses upon request.
Approval or Denial and Appeal Procedures
- Registrar sets and posts hearing notice, decides within 10 days.
- Approved applicants get identification cards.
- Disapproved applicants receive certificate stating grounds.
- Appeals may be filed within 15 days to Justice of the Peace or Court of First Instance.
- Courts decide appeals within 15 days.
Challenges to Registrations
- Electors or political party representatives may challenge registrations under oath with stated grounds.
- Challenges are attached to applications with hearing notice.
Publication of Registration Actions
- Within two days of decision, registrar posts applicant’s name, address, application date, and action taken.
Preparation and Handling of Precinct Books
- Registrar compiles approved applications alphabetically per precinct in binders.
- Books are sealed, certified, and delivered to boards of inspectors.
- Returned to registrar post-election for safekeeping.
- Public inspection prohibited 30 days before regular and 10 days before special elections.
Composition of Permanent List of Voters
- Aggregate of all approved precinct books in a locality forms the permanent voter list.
Central Files of Registration
- Duplicate copies sent to Provincial Central File; triplicate copies sent to COMELEC.
- Files arranged alphabetically and open during office hours for legitimate election-related inquiries.
Voter Identification Cards
- Serve as official identification for voting.
- Issuance free of charge; duplicates are issued only with COMELEC authorization.
- Cards include detailed personal data and signatures.
- Failure to surrender card on notice may lead to cancellation.
Petition for Voter Exclusion
- Electors, party representatives, or registrars may petition courts to exclude voters on grounds of disqualification or illegal registration.
- Petitions not allowed within 45 days before regular or 25 days before special elections.
- Courts must decide within 15 days; decisions are appealable.
- Excluded voters are removed to inactive files; reports sent to COMELEC and Provincial Files.
Cancellation of Registration
- Registrations can be canceled for death, imprisonment over one year or allegiance violation, and failure to vote in two consecutive regular elections.
- Registrar must notify voters and require card surrender.
- Names and reasons for cancellation are posted publicly and reported.
Cancellation on Request
- Voters may file sworn requests to cancel registration, especially when moving domicile.
- Procedures include filing with old or new registrar, transfer of cards, removal from active lists, and issuance of cancellation certificates.
- Cancellations are publicly posted for 30 days.
Address Changes Within Same Locality
- Voters must notify registrar at least 45 days before regular or 30 days before special elections.
- Registrar transfers applications to new precincts and notifies COMELEC and Provincial Files.
Adjustments for Precinct Changes
- Registrations are transferred accordingly when precinct boundaries are divided or merged.
- Affected voters are notified.
Publication of Voter Lists Before Elections
- Certified precinct voter lists furnished to candidates, parties, Provincial Files, and COMELEC.
- Furnished 30 days before regular and 10 days before special elections.
- Copies are posted at polling places for public reference.
Canvass to Verify Registrations
- Registrar may conduct mail or house-to-house canvasses to detect improper registrations without travel allowances.
Powers of the Election Registrar
- Registrar can administer oaths and issue subpoenas like justices of the peace.
- Fees for private party-initiated subpoenas must be prepaid.
Funding and Appropriations
- Necessary funds for implementation are authorized and included in annual appropriations.
- COMELEC may use savings from 1963 election funds for initial expenses.
Annulment of Fraudulent Voter Lists
- Lists prepared with fraud, bribery, forgery, intimidation, or similar irregularities may be annulled by COMELEC after hearing.
Postponement of Renewal of Voter Registration
- Scheduled registration renewal for 1963 is postponed.
- Existing voter lists annulled on act’s effectivity date; voters must re-register.
- If the act takes effect less than one year before a general election, postponement applies after the next election.
Repeal of Inconsistent Laws
- Conflicting provisions of the Revised Election Code and other laws are repealed.
Effective Date
- The act takes effect January 1, 1964, except that the postponement provision takes effect immediately upon approval.