CASTING and

COUNTING OF VOTES
Atty. Zoilo Antonio G. Velez
Atty. Burt M. Estrada
Atty. Palmer P. Palamine
Atty. Cerilio Neil E. Pacana
Atty. Bethoven A. Abuzo
Topics: 4 Ps

People
Paraphernalia
Polling Place
Procedure
Persons in Polling Place
Allowed Inside
BEI Members
Voters
Comelec
Representatives
Watchers

(Barangay officials)
Not Allowed
Officer/ Member of AFP,
PNP, Extra-Legal
Police or Para-Military
Forces
Unless: Voting, Called
by BEI (30m radius)
or Actual Disturbance
Pollwatcher: Qualifications
Qualified Voter of City or Municipality
Good Reputation
Not Convicted by Final Judgment of any
Election Offense or any other Crime
Knows How to Read and Write
Not Related to any Member of BEI
Duly Appointed (with ID; Appointment
Papers)
Pollwatcher:
Who are Entitled?
Kinds: Party Watchers and Candidate Watchers
All Political Parties (Note: 6 major political
parties entitled to principal watchers; Closest to
BEI)
All Party-List Organizations
All Candidates (Note: candidates for local
councils belonging to 1 party collectively entitled
to 2 watchers)
(Note: Only 2 watchers allowed, 1 at a given time)
Pollwatcher: Rights
STAY in place
reserved
WITNESS
proceedings
Take NOTES
Take
PHOTOGRAPHS
CHALLENGE voters


File PROTEST (and
get Certification)
READ Ballots
Obtain ERs when
entitled
Have CERTIFICATE
OF VOTES signed by
BEI
ACCOMPANY BEI in
delivery

Board of
Election Inspectors
3 Public School
Teachers (private
school teachers;
voters of known
probity)
Chairperson, Pollclerk
and 3rd Member
Conduct Voting and
Counting of Votes

Qualifications
Good Moral
Character
Registered Voter
Not Convicted or
Charged
Literate
Not Related to
Candidate or BEI
Paraphernalia
EDCVL and PCVL
(Election Day /Published Computerized
Voters List)
Ballot Box
Official Ballots
(pieces: voters + 3,
serial number)
Election Returns (2
sets, serial number)
Tally Sheets

Official List of
Candidates
Indelible Ink (2)
Envelopes and
Stickers-Seals
Minutes
Forms (Protest,
Certificate of Votes)
Ballot
Election Return
Certificate of Votes
Polling Place
Place or Building where Voters vote
(Distinguished from Precinct - unit of voting)
Designated by Comelec
Not under control of Private Entity/ Military Camp
Proper Set-Up (ensure privacy)
By Comelec authority, transfer (during counting)
if imminent danger, written and unanimous
recommendation by BEI and written concurrence
of majority of watchers present
Polling Place:
Prohibited Activities
Posting of CAMPAIGN MATERIALS
Use of CAMPAIGN T-SHIRTS, GADGETS
Carrying of FIREARMS inside/ within 100 meters
CERTAIN PERSONS not allowed
ELECTIONEERING
Any form of DISTURBANCE
Breach of PRIVACY
BEI PRE-SIGNS election forms

Challenge: Illegal Voter
Instances
Not registered
Using another name
Disqualified
Multiple Registrant
Recourse: Can Vote if
Present Voters ID/
Affidavit
In Book of Voters
Identified by BEI
member
Challenge: Illegal Acts
Acts Covered
Vote-Buying
Vote-Selling
Vote-Betting
Promise to Influence
or Withhold Vote
Recourse:

Can Vote if
Person Takes Oath

Electoral Process
1. Pre-Election Day
2. Election Day (May 14, 2007)
Before Opening of Polls (6:30 - 7:00)
Voting Period/ Casting (7:00 - 3:00)
Counting of Votes (3:00 up)
3. Canvassing
4. Proclamation
Pre-Election Day
Get List of Voters per Precinct
Visit Polling Place (set-up; list of voters)
Know BEI/ Teachers
Examine Paraphernalia at Office of Treasurer
(sealed; quantity; serial numbers)
Accompany BEI during Transport of Supplies
from Office of Treasurer to Polling Place
Obtain Appointment as Watcher and ID
Put up Voters Assistance Center
Before Opening of Polls
Polling Places are Opened
Election Paraphernalia and Book of Voters
Presented and Examined in Public
BEI Chair Opens Ballot Box (turn upside down)
BEI Locks Ballot Box
BEI Chair and Poll Clerk Sign at the Back of
Each Ballot
Watchers Present their Credentials
Voting Period:
Casting of Votes
Voters Vote in Order of their Entrance
Voter Approaches BEI Chair
BEI Verifies Identity
BEI Chair Announces Name (Voter may be
Challenged: Illegal Voter or Illegal Acts)
Voter Signs in Voting Record
BEI Chair Enters Ballot Number in Voting
Record
Voting Period:
Casting of Votes
BEI Chair Signs at the Back of Ballot
BEI Chair Delivers 1 Ballot to Voter
Voter Proceeds to Voting Booth (If Voter spoils
ballot, must be surrendered and given another)
Voter Delivers Folded Ballot to BEI Chair
Voter Affixes Thumbmark in Coupon
BEI Chair Verifies Ballot Number
Voter Affixes Thumbmark in Voting Record
Voting Period:
Casting of Votes
Chair applies indelible ink on right forefinger nail
of voter
BEI Chair Signs Voting Record
BEI Chair Detaches Coupon and Deposit Folded
ballot in Compartment for Valid Ballots and
Coupon in Compartment for Spoiled Ballots
Voter Departs
Voting Period:
Casting of Votes
If there are voters present at 3:00 p.m. within 30
meters in front of polling place, they may allowed
to vote
At the Close of Voting Hours, Unused Ballots are
Torn Halfway

Counting of Votes
Counting in Public and Without Interruption
Ballot Box Opened and Ballots Counted
Excess Ballots Disposed of
Marked Ballots Ascertained and Not Counted
Ballots Unfolded, then Placed in Piles of 100,
then Read Ballots of 1
st
Pile 1-by-1, BEI Chair
Affixes Thumbmark, Totals after Reading of
each Pile
During Counting, Chairperson reads names, Poll
Clerk Records on Election Returns, 3
rd
Member
Records on Tally Board
Counting of Votes
Rules on Appreciation Followed (Objections may
be made)
Valid Ballot
Intent Rule
3 Ss: Surname, Sitting Official (Incumbent) and
Slate
Distinguish Stray Vote and Invalid Ballot
Examination of 1 Ballot and Several Ballots
Section 211 OEC Lists the Rules
Rules of Appreciation
Michael Defensor
Kiram
Edgardo
Arroyo Aquino
Cayetano
Chiz Magsaysay
Pechay
Recto Recto

Villar Sotto
TAO
Z
W. Montano
Manong Chavit
Angara ng Buhay
Tol
Buboy --- Montano
Other Rules
Neighborhood (RuleGR No. 166931, Ranilo A. Velasco v. COMELEC and
Benigno C. Layesa, Jr., February 22, 2007)

Vote for Substituted

Correct Nickname

WBO/ WBT(Written by One vs. Written by Two)
Counting of Votes
Proclamation of Results (Alterations and
Corrections can be made Before
Announcement)
Sealing of Counted Ballots and Election
Returns and Certification of Tally Sheet
Issuance of Certificate of Votes
Delivery of Ballot Boxes and Election
Paraphernalia to Local Treasurer
7 Copies of Election Returns Distributed
Distribution of ERs
1
st
Copy M/ C Board of Canvassers
2
nd
Copy Posted on Wall
3
rd
Copy Comelec
4
th
Copy Dominant Majority Party
5
th
Copy Dominant Minority Party
6
th
Copy Citizens Arm
7
th
Copy Ballot Box
End of Presentation
Through the Courtesy of
Cong. COCOY R. BIOCO