Election and Campaign Period
- Election period starts 90 days before election day and ends 30 days after, unless otherwise designated by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
- For the May 14, 1984 election, campaigning runs from March 27 to May 12.
- Campaigning is prohibited on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the day before election day, and election day itself.
Election of Members from Provinces, Cities, and Districts
- Candidates are voted at large by registered voters of their respective constituencies.
- Candidates receiving the highest votes corresponding to the number of seats available in a constituency are declared elected.
Sectoral Representatives
- Three sectors represented: Youth, Agricultural Labor, and Industrial Labor.
- Each sector entitled to four representatives—two from Luzon, one from Visayas, and one from Mindanao; youth sector gets two additional representatives from anywhere in the country.
- Representatives selected by the President from sectoral nominees.
Definitions and Scope of Sectors
- Agricultural labor: persons who personally and physically till the land as principal occupation, including tenants, lessees, rural workers, small fishermen, etc.
- Industrial labor: all non-agricultural workers and employees.
- Youth: persons aged 25 years and below.
Selection Procedure for Sectoral Representatives
- Recognized organizations/aggroupments of sectors submit nominees within 20 days after election of other representatives.
- Recognition based on membership extent, responsiveness, militancy, observance of law, and other analogous factors.
- President appoints representatives from these nominees.
- Sectoral representatives have identical functions and rights as other members.
Rights of Political Parties
- Defined as organized groups pursuing same ideology, including branches.
- Must register with COMELEC for juridical personality and election privileges.
- Political parties failing to secure 3% of votes in a constituency lose registered status after notice and hearing.
Registration and Candidate Nomination
- Groups file petitions with constitution, by-laws, and platform for registration.
- Religious sects and violent organizations are disqualified from registration.
- Parties can select candidates by convention or consensus before March 27, 1984.
- Official candidate nominations to be filed with COMELEC by March 27.
- Parties can change official tickets anytime; candidates removed remain individual candidates unless they withdraw.
- Registered parties can form coalitions and nominate/support candidates from other parties.
Qualifications for Members and Filing of Candidacy
- Members must be natural-born citizens, at least 25 years old (18-25 for youth representatives), able to read and write, registered voters in the area, and residents for specified periods.
- Filing of a sworn certificate of candidacy required by March 27.
- Filing suspends or terminates public appointments for certain officials.
- Candidates cannot file for more than one constituency unless they declare choice before deadline.
- Certificate must contain detailed personal, political, and residency information and bio-data.
Filing, Replacement, and Withdrawal of Candidacies
- Certificates filed in multiple copies with election officials and distributed to voting centers.
- Substitutions allowed for candidates who die, withdraw, or are disqualified, by the same political party until midday of election day.
- Withdrawal or cancellation must be by sworn statement before election day.
Registration, Voter Lists, and Voting Centers
- Governed by Presidential Decree No. 1896.
- Voting centers must be contiguous, properly located, and accessible.
- Locations prohibited if owned by candidates or related persons, government officials, or inside military camps.
- Maps posted showing voting center divisions.
Posting and Transfer of Candidate Lists and Voting Centers
- Certified candidate lists posted in booths and conspicuous places on the day before election.
- Defacement or removal of lists is unlawful.
- Voting centers may be transferred for peace and order reasons upon due notice.
Citizens Election Committee
- Composition and appointment follow Presidential Decree No. 1896 with specified amendments.
- Political parties, candidates, and authorized organizations have the right to copy member lists; violation is an election offense.
Watchers
- Each party, coalition, or independent candidate entitled to two watchers per voting center; only one watches at a time.
- Watchers must be qualified voters, literate, of good reputation, and not related to election committee members within the fourth degree.
- Authorized organizations may appoint watchers as well.
- Watchers have rights to observe, take notes, photograph, file protests, and obtain certificates related to election proceedings.
Official Ballots and Election Returns
- Ballots of uniform size and color, printed on special paper with security features.
- Emergency ballots prepared with advance notification of stakeholders.
- Distribution at a ratio of 1.5 ballots per registered voter and one set of returns per voting center.
- Supervision by a committee involving COMELEC personnel, Commission on Audit, and political party representatives.
Voting Procedures
- Voting hours from 7 AM to 4 PM but extended for voters in line within 30 meters.
- Limits on persons allowed inside voting centers; prohibition of armed or peace officers except under narrow conditions.
- Members of the election committee must thumbprint the minutes of voting and counting.
- Watchers can obtain certified copies of voting minutes; denial is an offense.
- Illiterate or disabled voters may be assisted by authorized persons sworn to confidentiality.
Counting of Votes
- Additional ballot counting rules stipulated, including handling of names and surnames for incumbents.
- Ballots tallied with vertical and diagonal lines; minutes signed and thumbprinted by all committee members.
- Multiple copies of election returns created, sealed, and distributed to designated recipients.
Canvassing and Proclamation
- Boards of canvassers established per province, city, and district with specified compositions.
- Representatives from ruling and dominant opposition parties included.
- Watchers entitled to file protests.
- Strict procedures for delivery, safekeeping, and canvassing of election returns, including secure rooms with multiple locks.
- Restrictions on armed persons' presence in canvassing areas.
Pre-Proclamation Controversies
- Exclusive jurisdiction of COMELEC over pre-proclamation controversies.
- Proper issues include illegal board composition, defective returns, fraud, and illegal voters.
- Improper issues include campaign irregularities, candidate disqualification, or election protests.
- Suspension of canvass during controversies unless COMELEC orders continuation.
- Summary hearing and immediate executory decisions by COMELEC unless restrained by Supreme Court.
- Partial proclamation allowed for unaffected candidates.
Election Contests
- Exclusive jurisdiction of COMELEC.
- Petitions by candidates or aspirants filed within 10 days after proclamation or appointment.
- Quo warranto petitions on grounds of ineligibility filed within 10 days.
- Simple, inexpensive, and expeditious procedures mandated.
- Decisions final 10 days after promulgation unless reconsideration is filed.
Election Offenses and Penalties
- Additional offenses include unauthorized wearing of military uniform, organizing reaction forces, improper expenditure of public funds, unauthorized public works, and improper suspension of officials.
- Increased penalties for vote buying/selling, threats, use of armored vehicles, including imprisonment and disqualification, with reclusion perpetua for offenses causing death.
- Commission has exclusive power to investigate and prosecute election offenses.
- Strict arrest provisions; warrants required and reasonable bail provided.
Transitory and Final Provisions
- Pending actions governed by prior laws.
- COMELEC authorized to reorganize for efficiency.
- Appropriations sourced from Commission funds, augmented as needed.
- Separability clause ensures remainder of law remains effective if parts are invalidated.
- Election Code and other statutes apply unless inconsistent.
- Inconsistent laws repealed or modified accordingly.
- The law takes effect upon approval.