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WATCHERS Guide

The Omnibus Election Code outlines the qualifications and rights of official watchers for candidates at polling places, including requirements for being a qualified voter and not having prior convictions. Each political party, coalition, or independent candidate can appoint a watcher, who must present their appointment upon entering the polling place. Watchers have specific rights to observe proceedings, take notes, and file protests, but are restricted from engaging in distracting conversations during the election process.

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50 views2 pages

WATCHERS Guide

The Omnibus Election Code outlines the qualifications and rights of official watchers for candidates at polling places, including requirements for being a qualified voter and not having prior convictions. Each political party, coalition, or independent candidate can appoint a watcher, who must present their appointment upon entering the polling place. Watchers have specific rights to observe proceedings, take notes, and file protests, but are restricted from engaging in distracting conversations during the election process.

Uploaded by

Pearl Holgado
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Omnibus Election Code - Article XV

Sec. 178. Official watchers of candidates. –


WHO SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A WATCHER PER POLLING PLACE?
1) Every registered political party,
2) coalition of political parties and
3) every independent candidate
WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF WATCHERS?
1) qualified voter of the city or municipality,
2) of good reputation and shall not have been convicted by final judgment of any election
offense or of any other crime,
3) must know how to read and write Pilipino, English, Spanish or any of the prevailing local
dialects, and
4) not related within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to the chairman or any
member of the board of election inspectors in the polling place where he seeks appointment
as a watcher.
WHO CAN DESIGNATE A REPRESENTATIVE AUTHORIZED TO APPOINT WATCHERS?
1) Each candidate, political party or coalition of political parties shall designate in every
province, highly urbanized city or district in the Metropolitan Manila area, a representative
authorized to appoint watchers, furnishing the provincial election supervisor or the
city election registrar, as the case may be, the names of such representatives. The
provincial election supervisors shall furnish the municipal election registrars and election
registrars of component cities with the list of such representatives.

Sec. 179. Rights and duties of watchers. –


WHAT ARE THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF WATCHERS?
IDENTIFICATION AND ACCREDITATION
1) Upon entering the polling place, the watchers shall present and deliver to the chairman of
the board of election inspectors his appointment, and forthwith, his name shall be recorded
in the minutes with a notation under his signature that he is not disqualified under the
second paragraph of Section 178.
2) The appointments of the watchers shall bear the personal signature or the facsimile
signature of the candidate or the duly authorized representatives of the political party or
coalition of political parties who appointed him or of organizations authorized by the
Commission under Section 180.
3) The watchers shall have the right to stay in the space reserved for them inside the polling
place.

RIGHTS OF WATCHERS
4) They shall have the right to:
a. To witness and inform themselves of the proceedings of the board of election
inspectors, including its proceedings during the registration of voters,
b. To take notes of what they may see or hear,
c. to take photographs of the proceedings and incidents, if any, during the counting of
votes, as well as of election returns, tally boards and ballot boxes,
d. to file a protest against any irregularity or violation of law which they believe may
have been committed by the board of election inspectors or by any of its members or
by any persons,
e. to obtain from the board of election inspectors a certificate as to the filing of such
protest and/or of the resolution thereon,
f. to read the ballots after they shall have been read by the chairman, as well as the
election returns after they shall have been completed and signed by the members of
the board of election inspectors without touching them,

RESTRICTIONS
g. But they shall not speak to:
i. any member of the board of election inspectors, or
ii. any voter, or
iii. among themselves, in such a manner as would distract the proceedings, and
h. to be furnished with a certificate of the number of votes in words and figures cast for
each candidate, duly signed and thumbmarked by the chairman and all the members
of the board of election inspectors. Refusal of the chairman and the members of
the board of election inspectors to sign and furnish such certificate shall
constitute an election offense and shall be penalized under this Code.
Sec. 180. Other watchers. –
WHO ARE THE OTHER QUALIFIED WATCHERS?
1) The duly accredited citizens arm of the Commission shall be entitled to appoint a
watcher in every polling place.
2) Other civic, religious, professional, business, service, youth and any other similar
organizations, with prior authority of the Commission, shall be entitled collectively to
appoint one watcher in every polling place.

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