Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS Manila GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS ON PANGARUNGAN, SaidamenB. Chairman VOTING OF INDIGENOUS INTING, Socorro B. Commissioner PEOPLES IN ACCESSIBLE CASQUEJO, Marlon s. Commissioner FEROLINO, Aimee P. Commissioner reas coves St Ae" ue Scanner NERI, Aimee T. Commissioner (SPPs) IN CONNECTION WITH Garcia, George Erwin M. Commissioner THE MAY 9, 2022 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS (2022 NLE) Promulgated: March 9, 2022 RESOLUTION No. 10767 WHEREAS, Section 1 of Article V of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that, “Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein they propose to vote for at least six months immediately preceding the election. No literacy, property, or other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage”; WHEREAS, Section 22 of Article If of the Philippine Constitution states that, “The State recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the framework of national unity and development”; WHEREAS, the COMELEC is the constitutional body mandated to conduct honest, orderly, peaceful and credible elections in the country and has continuously and tirelessly adopted policies of inclusivity towards the members of the vulnerable sectors particularly the IPs; WHEREAS, on December 4, 2019, the COMELEC in Minute Resolution No. 19-1134! dated December 4, 2019, approved the creation of Vulnerable Sectors Office (VSO), which shall be subsumed under the structure of the Office of the Deputy Executive Director for Operations as most of its functions, projects, and/or activities would require direct coordination with other departments in the Commission and incorporation in election operations of 1 I THE MATTER OF TH PROPOSED CREATION OF A VULNERABLE SECTORS OFFICEsuch projects and/or activities through the Office of the Regional Election Directors (OREDs); WHEREAS, on March 8, 2020, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued Proclamation No. 922? dated March 8, 2020, declaring a State of Public Health Emergency throughout the Philippines, and ordered a whole-of-government approach in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic; and WHEREAS, COMELEC supports the main objective of the Government. to stop the spread of COVID-19, and adheres to the principle that government services should not be denied to the general public, by institutionalizing preventive health measures, adopting the new normal to protect its personnel and the public clientele. NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to its authority under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code and other election laws, the COMELEC HEREBY RESOLVES to promulgate the following GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS ON VOTING OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN ACCESSIBLE VOTING CENTERS (AVCs) AND SEPARATE POLLING PLACES (SPPs) IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAY 9, 2022 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS: RULE I INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS SECTION 1. GENERAL PRINCIPLES. - The Commission shall be guided by the following principles in implementing this Resolution a. The Commission shall ensure that the voting procedures in the AVCs and SPPs, including the facilities and materials therein are appropriate, accessible and easy to understand and use, and that reasonable accommodation shall be granted to IP voters who are persons with disabilities, senior citizens and heavily pregnant in order that they may fully exercise their right to suffrage; b. The right to ballot secrecy of IP voters, as provided by law, shall be respected at all times; c. The right of IP voters to be assisted by a person of their own choice shall be enforced and protected; and d. The role of concerned government and non-government agencies and civil society organizations in implementing this Resolution is indispensable SECTION 2. DEFINITION OF TERMS. - As used in this Resolution, the following terms shall mean: * DECLARING A STATE OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY THROUGHOUT THE PHILIPPINES 21 Page3[ Page k, Accessible Voting Center (AVC) - refers to newly established voting centers located near or in the communities of IP voters; Clustered - Separate Polling Place (C-SPP) - refers to an SPP clustered with regular established precincts in a voting center; Department of Education Supervisor Official (DESO) - refers to the principal of the school or other person appointed to assist the member of the Electoral Board (EB) in ensuring the orderly, peaceful and safe conduct of elections in a voting center; DESO Safety Protocol Officer Support Staff — refers to the person charged with ensuring that minimum public health standards are observed within the voting centers. DESO Technical Support Staff — refers to persons appointed to provide VCM technical support; Election Day Computerized Voters List for IP (EDCVL-IP) - refers to the final list (containing the voters’ photographs, signatures, and thumb prints) of IP voters assigned in the SPP or AVC. The EDCVL - IP, duly certified by the EB, is where the IP voters shall affix their signatures or imprint their thumb marks before casting their votes; Electoral Board (EB) - refers to the collective term for the Chairperson and members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI), Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEJ), Board of Election Tellers (BET) and Special Board of Election Tellers (SBET) (Section 2 (c), Republic Act No. 10756); Election Officer/Acting Election Officer (EO/AEO) - refers to the highest official of the Commission in a district, city or municipality; Emergency Accessible Polling Place (EAPP) - refers to a [class] room or makeshift/temporary polling place established in the first floor or at the ground of a voting center or outside of it but in close proximity thereto, where a person with disability, senior citizen and heavily pregnant voter falling under Section 2 (a) hereof may vote on election day; Exclusive - Separate Polling Place (E-SPP) - refers to an SPP clustered exclusively alone or together with other SPP/s and allocated its own VCM; Heavily Pregnant Voter — refers to those who are, at least, six (6) months on the family way; Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) - refer to a group of people or homogenous societies identified by self-ascription and ascription by others, who have continuously lived as organized community on communally bounded and defined territory, and who have, under claims of ownership since time immemorial, occupied, possessed andutilized such territories, sharing common bonds of language. customs, traditions and other distinctive cultural traits, or who have, through resistance to political, social and cultural inroads of colonization, non-indigenous religions and cultures, became historically differentiated from the majority of Filipinos. ICCs/IPs shall likewise include peoples who are regarded as indigenous on account of their descent from the populations which inhabited the country, at the time of conquest or colonization, or at the time of inroads of non-indigenous religions and cultures, or the establishment of present state boundaries, who retain some or all of their own social, economic, cultural and_ political institutions, but who may have been displaced from their traditional domains or who may have resettled outside their ancestral domains®; m. IP Voter ~ refers to an IP voter whose registration record has undergone validation and who has indicated in the Supplementary Data Form that he/she is an IP and/or belongs to an ICC; n. Isolation Polling Place (IPP) — refers to a room or makeshift tent established in every voting center where voters evaluated by the Medical Personnel to be suffering from a fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius or higher, or any of the COVID 19 symptoms, may cast their vote; 0. Medical Personnel ~ refers to the health care worker tasked to check voters with temperatures of 37.5 degrees Celsius or exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19; p. Posted Computerized Voter’s List (PCVL) — refers to the computerized list of voters posted outside the polling place; 4. Polling Place - refers to the place where the EB conducts its proceedings and where the voters cast their votes; Posted Computerized Voters List for IP (PCVL-IP) - refers to the final list (containing the voters’ names, addresses and precinct numbers) of IP voters posted in the SPP or AVC; s. Provincial Election Supervisor/Acting Provincial Election Supervisor (PES/APES) - refers to the highest official of the Commission in a province; t. Person with Disability (PWD) - refers to a voter who have long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in the electoral processes on an equal basis with others (Section 2 (b), Republic Act No. 10366); u. Regional Election Director (RED) - refers to the highest official of the Commission in a region; ‘Section 3 (h) of Republic Act No. $371 (AN ACT 70 RECOGNIZE, PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES/MDIOENOUS PEOPLES, CREATING A NATIONSL COMMISSIOV ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, [ESTABLISHING IMPLEMENTING MECHANISMS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THERBEOR, AND FOR OTMER *Unroste) 4|Pagev. Senior Citizen (SC) ~ refers to a qualified voter who is sixty (60) years or older (Section 2 (e), Republic Act No. 10366); Ww. Separate Polling Place (SPP) — refers to a polling place established in an existing voting center exclusively devoted for IP voters. An SPP is either Clustered (b) or Exclusive (g); x, Support Staff - refers to person appointed to assist the EB and the DESO in the performance of their duties; y. Voting center - refers to the building or place where the polling place is located (Section 3 (m), Republic Act No. 8189); and 2. Vote Counting Machine (VCM) - refers to a machine that uses optical mark reader (OMR) technology for counting of votes. RULE I ACCESSIBLE VOT! ENTER (AVC) AND SE] TE ING PLACE SPP} SECTION 3. CREATION AND PURPOSE OF AVC. - Any building or structure located within the community where the IP voters are residing maybe designated as AVC pursuant to Resolution No. 10424+ dated September 21, 2018. AVC is created to address the issue of inaccessibility of voting centers to IP voters who live in isolated or far-flung areas. SECTION 4. CREATION AND PURPOSE OF SPP. - IP voters in an existing, voting center maybe transferred to an established precinct to be assigned exclusively in an SPP pursuant to Resolution No. 10424, SPP is created to address the issue of discrimination committed against IP voters during the past elections, which effectively discouraged them to participate in the electoral process. SECTION 5. CLUSTERING OF IP PRECINCTS IN THE SPP. - Clustering of IP precincts assigned in the SPP shall follow the guidelines provided for in Minute Resolution No. 18-10465 dated November 7, 2018. SECTION 6. TYPES OF SPPs. - SPPs mentioned in Section 5 hereof are classified into: 1. Exclusive ~ SPP (E-SSP) ~ refers to: a) an SPP with at least 150 IP voters, which in itself is considered as a clustered precinct on its own; and b) numerous SPPs, which after clustering together resulted to or exceeded the 150 IP voters mentioned in letter a but is still within the clustering guidelines implemented by the Commission for a particular election; and ‘IW THE MATTER OF ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES FOR THE CREATION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ESTABLISHED PRECINCTS [FOR SEPARATE POLLING PLACES AND ACCESSIBLE VOTING CENTERS, SW THE MATTER OF THE CLUSTERING OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ESTABLISHED PRECINCTS UNDER THE CLUSTERING [SCHEME FOR THE 2019 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS 5[ Pane2. Clustered - SPP (C-SPP) - refers to an SPP with less than 150 IP voters, which is clustered with regular precincts with the least number of voters in a voting center. The use of the term SPP shall mean to refer to both E-SPP and C-SPP. SECTION 7. TYPES OF C-SPPs. — C-SPP are categorized into the following: a. Type A —refers to C-SPP with 100 to 149 IP voters; and b. Type B ~refers to C-SPP with 99 and below IP voters. SECTION 8. SEPARATE VOTING ROOM (SVR) FOR C-SPP TYPE A. — C-SPP ‘Type A shall be assigned to a SVR, which shall be set-up, as far as practicable, Next to the polling place of the clustered precinct where it belongs. SECTION 9, IP-EAPP. ~ Pursuant to a Minute Resolution dated December 22, 2021, titled “IN THE MATTER OF THE COMMENT OF THE REQUEST OF LENTE FOR RECONSIDERATION OF THE DENIAL FOR THE CREATION OF IP ESTABLISHED PRECINCTS FOR ACCESSIBLE VOTING CENTERS OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE VOTERS IN SIMARIKI ISLAND, BRGY, TALON-TALON, ZAMBOANGA CITY", an EAPP shall be established for the one hundred eight (108) IP voters of Simariki Island, Barangay Talon-Talon, Zamboanga City, for the 2022 NLE. ‘The IP-EAPP shall be established in one (1) of the rooms located in the ground floor of the present voting center where the established precinct of the affected IP voters belongs. In case none is available, the IP-EAPP shall be established in a makeshift or temporary polling place to be built inside or in close proximity to the voting center. RULE Il EL (EB) AND ITS SUPPORT S$’ Ss. FOR THE AVC AND E- SPP SECTION 10. EB AND ITS SS FOR AVC AND E-SPP, — There shall be an EB for every clustered precinct in the AVC and E-SPP. The SS of every EB shall be appointed in accordance with the matrix provided for in Section 26, Article II of Resolution No. 10727. As far as practicable, women shall not be appointed as EB members in AVCs, which are usually located in far-flung barangays. SECTION 11. SS IN THE SVR AND IP-EAPP. - Two (2) SS shall be assigned each in the SVR and IP-EAPP to supervise the voting therein. 6 | PageSECTION 12. DESO AND DESO SS. - Every AVC shall be assigned a DESO and two (2) DESO SS, who shall act as Technical Support and Safety Protocol Officer. SECTION 13. COMPOSITION, CONSTITUTION, APPOINTMENT AND QUALIFICATIONS OF EB AND ITS SS FOR THE AVC AND E-SPP; DESO AND DESO-SS; SVR SS; AND IP-EAPP. - Article II of Resolution No. 10727 shall be observed in the composition, constitution, appointment and qualifications of EB and its SS for the AVC and E-SPP; DESO and DESO-SS; SVR $8; and IP- EAPP SS; SECTION 14, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE EB. - The EB assigned in the AVC or E-SPP shall have the same powers and functions of an EB under Section 19 of Resolution No. 10727. SECTION 15. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE DESO. - The DESO assigned in the AVC shall have the same powers and functions of a DESO under Section 27 of Resolution No. 10727. SECTION 16. VOTING PRIVILEGE OF THE EB MEMBERS IN THE AVC AND E-SPP. - The EB Members in the AVC and E-SSP shall have the same voting privilege of EB Members under Section 20 of Resolution No. 10727. SECTION 17. PROCEEDINGS OF THE EB. - The proceedings of the EB in the AVC and E-SPP shall be public and shall be held in accordance with Section 21° of Resolution No. 10727. SECTION 18. HONORARIA, ALLOWANCE, SERVICE CREDITS AND OTHER BENEFITS. - The EB and its SS; DESO and DESO $$; SVR SS; and IP-EAPP SS shall receive the same honoraria, allowance, service credits and other benefits provided for in Section 33 of Resolution No. 10727. The SVR and IP-EAPP SS shall not, however be entitled to travel allowance during Final Testing and Sealing (FTS) and communication allowance. SECTION 19. MEDICAL PERSONNEL. - The following Medical Personnel shall be appointed in the AVC: a A health care worker task to check voters with temperatures of 37.5 degrees Celsius or exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 virus. The EO/AEO shall enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Health (DOH) or any non-partisan NGO. ® Secton 21. Meetings of the authorized by the Commission, oral Board, ~ The meetings ofthe BB shall be public and Weld only inthe poling place The EE shall act through its chairperson, and without delay, decide by majority vote, all questions that may ‘ance inthe performance of is ties, The miininwm public health standards issued by the IAT.BID, other health protocols and Article XIN) COVID: 19 preventive measures, health and safety protocols during the conditct of Final Testing un Sealing of VCM. votna, counting, and transmission of election results of this Resolution, shall be strictly observed during these meetings 7) PageCSO and other organizations available in his/her respective areas of responsibilities to man the body temperature scanning area; and b. A Medical Personnel from the qualified deputized agencies to be assigned in the IPP. The provisions of Article XI of Resolution No. 10727 shall apply in the IPP to be established in the AVC. SECTION 20. SS IN THE IPP. ~ One (1) SS shall be appointed to assist the Medical Personnel assigned in the IPP mentioned in Section 19 (b) hereof SECTION 21. APPOINTMENT, QUALIFICATIONS, RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF WATCHERS. ~ The appointment, qualifications, rights and duties of watchers of each candidate, duly registered political party or coalition of political parties, associations or organizations participating in the Party-List System, and duly accredited citizens’ arms in every polling place in the AVC, E-SPP, SVR and IP- EAPP shall be governed by Article III of Resolution No. 10727. RULE IV PRELIMIN, ND VOTING PR THE AV SECTION 22. DATE AND HOUR OF VOTING. - Voting in the AVC and E-SPP shall take place from 6:00 A.M. to 7: 00 P.M. on May 9, 2022 NLE. IP voters who have not yet cast their votes but are within thirty (30) meters from the polling place by 7:00 P.M. shall still be allowed to cast their votes. The Poll Clerk of the EB shall promptly prepare a complete list in duplicate containing the names of said IP voters numbered consecutively. The IP voters so listed shall be called to vote by the Poll Clerk by announcing near the door of the polling place, in a tone loud enough to be heard throughout the polling place, each name three (3) times in the order in which they are listed. Any IP voter in the list who is not present or does not respond when called shall no longer be allowed to vote. The said list shall be attached to the Minutes. SECTION 23. FINAL TESTING AND SEALING (FTS) OF VCM IN THE AVC AND E-SPP. - The period and procedures for the conduct of the FTS provided in Article V of Resolution No. 10727 shall be observed in the AVC and E-SPP. SECTION 24. WHO MAY BE ALLOWED TO VOTE IN THE AVC, E-SPP, SVR AND IP-EAPP. - Only IP voters whose names appear in the EDCVL-IP and PCVL-IP may vote in the AVC, E-SPP, SVR and IP-EAPP. SECTION 25. PERSONS ALLOWED INSIDE THE AVC, E-SPP, SVR AND IP- EAPP. - Only the following shall be allowed to enter the AVC, E-SPP, SVR and IP-EAPP: a. Members of the EB; Sl Pageb. EB SS; c. SVR-SS; d, IP-EAPP ss; ¢. Official watchers of candidates and political parties: f£ Watchers of accredited citizens’ arms and other monitoring organizations, as authorized by the Commission; 8, Representatives of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP); h. Representatives of the Commission; i, IP voters accomplishing their ballots; J- IP Voters waiting for their turn to accomplish their ballots; and k. Other persons who maybe authorized by the Commission. SECTION 26. PERSONS NOT ALLOWED INSIDE THE AVC, E-SPP, SVR AND IP-EAPP. - The following shall not be allowed to enter the AVC, SPP-E, SVR and IP-EAPP: a. Any officer or member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or the Philippine National Police (PNP); b. Any peace officer or any armed person belonging to any extra-legal police agency, special forces, reaction forces, strike forces, Civilian Armed Force Geographical Units, barangay tanods or other similar forces or paramilitary forces, including special forces, security guards, special policemen; c. All other kinds of armed or unarmed extra-legal police forces; and d. Any candidate or barangay official, whether elected or appointed, except if they are among the IP voter assigned to vote in the AVC, SPP, SVR and IP-EAPP, However, the EB in the AVC and E-SPP; SVR SS; and IP-EAPP SS, if it deems necessary, may order in writing the detail of a policeman or any peace officer for its protection or for the protection of election documents and paraphernalia. Such order shall be entered in the Minutes. Said policeman or peace officer shall stay outside the polling place, SVR or IP- EAPP near enough to be easily called by the EB at any time. In no case shall the said policeman or peace officer hold any conversation with any voter or disturb or prevent or in any manner obstruct the free access of the voters to the polling place, SVR or IP-EAPP. RULE V PROCEDURES ON VOTING, COUNTING OF VOTES AND TRANSMISSION OF PRECINCT RESULTS IN THE AVC AND E-SPP 9| PageSECTION 26. PROCEDURES ON VOTING, COUNTING OF VOTES AND TRANSMISSION OF PRECINCT RESULTS IN THE AVC AND E-SPP, - The Procedures on voting, counting of votes and transmission of precinct results provided in Articles VI and VII of Resolution No. 10727 shall be observed in the AVC and E-SPP. RULE VI VOTING PROCEDURES IN THE SVR SECTION 27. PRELIMINARIES TO VOTING IN THE SVR AND IP-EAPP, ~ The following procedures shall be observed in the SVR and IP-EAPP: a. The EO shall: i, Highlight and annotate the IP voter’s name in the EDCVL and PCVL with "IP voter" and affix his/her initial beside the annotation. b. The EB Chairperson shall: i, Before the start of the voting hours, announce that his or her clustered precinct has an IP precinct assigned to an SVR or IP-EAPP, hence, a number of ballots will be taken out of the polling place and brought to the designated SVR or IP-EAPP; ii. In the presence of the two (2) SS and other EB members, segregate the ballots allocated for the IP voters per established precinct. Place the ballots in an expandable envelope, close and seal the same using a paper seal. One (1) expandable envelope shall be provided for each IP precinct, The envelope and paper seal shall be provided by the SVR SS and IP-EAPP SS; and iii. Turn-over the PCVL-IP and EDCVL-IP to the SVR SS or IP- EAPP SS. b. The EB Poll Clerk shall: i. Enter in the Minutes the name of the SVR SS or IP-EAPP. ss, the number of ballots retrieved per established precinct, the serial number of the paper seal of the envelope and the time the SVR SS or IP-EAPP SS retrieved the ballots. The EB shall require the SVR SS or IP-EAPP SS to sign the entry. c. All EB Members shall: i. Affix their initials on the paper seal and thereafter, turn- over the envelope containing the IP ballots to the SVR SS or IP- EAPP SS. 4. The SVR SS or IP-EAPP SS shall: i. Prepare the SVR or IP-EAPP; 10]ii, Obtain from the BO the Non-Accountable Forms for the SVR or IP-EAPP such as expandable envelopes, paper seals, log book, ballpens and Authorization Forms to be signed by the IP voters; iii. Meet the EB at the polling place to get the ballots for the IP voters assigned in the SVR or IP-EAPP using the expandable envelope and paper seal; and iv. Post the PCVL-IP near the door of the SVR or IP-EAPP. SECTION 28. VOTING HOUR IN THE SVR AND IP-EAPP. — Voting in the SVR and IP-EAPP shall be from 6:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on May 9, 2022 to ensure that there will be enough time for the accomplished ballots to be returned and fed in the VCM in the polling places where the C-SPP Type A assigned in the SVR and IP precinct assigned in the IP-EAPP belong. IP voters who have not yet cast their votes but are within thirty (30) meters from the SVR and IP-EAPP by 5:00 P.M. shall still be allowed to cast their votes. One of the SVR or IP-EAPP SS shall promptly prepare a complete list in duplicate containing the names of said IP voters numbered consecutively. The IP voters so listed shall be called to vote by the SVR or IP-EAPP SS by announcing near the SVR or IP-EAPP, in a tone loud enough to be heard throughout the SVR or IP-EAPP, each name three (3) times in the order in which they are listed. Any IP voter in the list who is not present or does not respond when called shall no longer be allowed to vote. The said list shall be attached to the Mimutes. The foregoing shall be immediately made known to the EB Chairperson in the polling place to ensure that the latter will wait for the delivery of the ballots in the polling place. SECTION 29.MANNER OF VOTING IN THE SVR AND IP-EAPP. - The following voting procedures shall be observed in the SVR and IP-EAPP: ‘A. The SVR SS and IP-EAPP SS shall: 1. Upon arrival of the IP voter, inspect his or her fingernail for any ink stain. If there be none, require him or her to accomplish the Authorization Form (Annex A) after explaining to him or her the effect of voting in the SVR or IP-EAPP; 2. Verify the identity of the voter in the EDCVL-IP, if verified, require the IP voter to sign opposite his or her name or if he or she cannot, impress his or her thumbprint in the EDCVL-IP. In case of doubt, the SVR SS or IP-EAPP SS shall require the presentation of any document for identification purposes. If no such document is presented, the voter may be identified under oath by one of the SVR SS or IP-EAPP SS or another IP voter belonging to the IP precinct assigned to the SVR. Such identification shall be recorded in the log book of the SVR or IP-EAPP. Any registered voter belonging to the same precinct as the voter identified shall be allowed to identify only up to three (3) IP voters, 11| PageThe SCR SS shall be allowed to identify more than three (3) IP voters, 3. Issue the ballot to the IP voter in the same manner as if the EB Chairperson is issuing the same; 4. Instruct the IP voter to accomplish the ballot by properly shading the oval next to the candidates he or she wants to vote and remind him/her to keep the ballot clean as much as possible. 5. After accomplishing the ballot, insert it in an envelope. The SVR SS or IP-EAPP SS shall always ensure the security and sanctity of the accomplished ballots; 6. Apply indelible ink to the IP voter's right forefinger nail or any other nail if there be no forefinger nail or in any other suitable part of the voter's body, if there are no fingernails; and 7. Request the IP voter to leave the SVR or IP-EAPP. SECTION 30. EARLY CLOSE OF VOTING IN THE SVR AND IP-EAPP. - In case all IP voters expected to vote in the SVR and IP-EAPP have already cast their votes before the period provided in Section 28 hereof, all SVR SS or IP- EAPP SS by unanimous agreement, may declare early close of voting therein by observing the procedures provided for in Sections 31 and 32 hereof. SECTION 31. PROCEDURES FOR CLOSING OF THE SVR AND IP-EAPP. - Before closing the SVR and IP-EAPP, the SS shall accomplish the Template for Voters’ Turn-Out (Annex B). The SS shall seal the envelope containing the ballots and tear off the remaining unused ballots in two (2) halves and placed them inside the envelope by precinct. Enter in the log book the time of closing of the SVR and IP-EAPP. The Annex B and log book shall be turned-over to the OEO, which shall in turn submit them to the Commission, through the VSO. ‘The turn-over of Annex B and log book to the OEO shall be a pre-requisite for the payment of the remuneration due the SS as stated in Section 18 hereol. Annex B shall also be accomplished in the AVC, S-EAPP and C-SPP Type B. SECTION 32. PROCEDURES AFTER CLOSING OF THE SVR AND IP-EAPP. — ‘Once the SVR or IP-EAPP is closed, the SS shall seal the envelopes containing the accomplished ballots and thereafter deliver them to the EB Chairpersons who issued said ballots. The EB Chairperson shall announce, in a voice loud enough to be heard throughout the polling place, the receipt of the ballots of the IP voters from the SVR or IP-EAPP. The EB Poll Clerk shall enter in the Minutes the time of the turn-over of the ballots to the polling place and the serial numbers of the paper seal attached to the envelope, thereafter the SS shall affix their signatures thereto. After the hour of voting in the polling place, the EB Chairperson shall announce that the envelopes containing the ballots of the IP voters from the SVR or IP- EAPP shall be opened for feeding to the VCM. The EB Chairperson shall then inspect the conditions of the envelope and ballots, compare the number of 2 Pageballots received with the number of ballots issued as indicated in the Minutes Prior to the start of voting, The conditions of the envelopes and ballots and/or discrepancies in the number of the ballots as against the number appearing in the Minutes shall also be entered in the latter, The EB Chairperson shall, in the presence of the other EB members and watchers, feed the ballots to the VCM. Half of the torn unused ballots shall be inserted in the envelope (CEF No. A15) for submission to the EO while the other half shall be put inside another envelope (CEF No. A15) which shall be deposited inside the ballot box. The foregoing shall be entered in the Minutes as well as the total number of accomplished and torn ballots. Before actually feeding the ballots to the VCM, the EB Chairperson shall announce such action in the polling place. Thereafter, he or she shall feed the ballots to the VCM in the presence of the other EB members, SVR SS or IP- EAPP SS and watchers. The feeding of the ballots shall take place before performance of closing procedures in the VCM in the polling place. RULE VIL VOTING ASSISTORS SECTION 33. PREPARATION OF BALLOTS FOR IP VOTERS WHO ARE ILLITERATE OR WITH DISABILITIES IN THE AVC, E-SPP, SVR AND IP- EAPP. - No voter shalll be allowed to vote as an illiterate or a PWD unless such fact is indicated in the EDCVL - IP. If so, he or she may be assisted in the preparation of his or her ballot by any: a. Relative within the fourth (4th) civil degree of consanguinity or affinity; b. Any person of his or her confidence who belongs to the same household; or c. Any EB member in the AVC or E-SPP or SVR SS or EAPP SS. All assistors must be of voting age. No person may assist anIP voter who is illiterate or with disability more than three (3) times, except the EB members and the SVR SS or IP-EAPP 8s. In all cases, the Poll Clerk or SVR SS or IP-EAPP SS shall first verify from the IP voter who is illiterate or with disability whether he or she had authorized the assistor to help him or her to cast his or her vote, ‘The assistor shall prepare the ballot using a ballot secrecy folder. in the presence of the IP voter who is illiterate or with disability. The assistor shall bind himself or herself in writing and under oath to accomplish the ballot strictly in accordance with the instructions of the IP voter and not reveal the contents thereof, by affixing his or her signature in the appropriate space in the Minutes, RULE VIII LAY-OUT OF THE POLLING PLACES 13| PageSECTION 34. LAY-OUT OF POLLING PLACES IN THE AVC, E-SPP, SVR AND IP-EAPP. ~ The lay-out of polling places in the AVC, E-SPP, SVR and IP-EAPP Shall follow the same lay-out of polling places in regular voting centers SECTION 35. LAY-OUT OF POLLING PLACE OF THE C-SPP TYPE B. — The lay-out of the polling place of the regular clustered precinct where a C-SPP Type B belongs shall be arranged in such a manner that at least five (5) chairs or voting booths shall be exclusively allocated to IP voters. SECTION 36. EXPRESS LANE. ~ IP voters who are PWDs, SCs or heavily pregnant shall be afforded a priority or express lane in the AVC, E-SPP, SVR. IP-EAPP and polling place where the C-SPP Type B is clustered and be allowed to vote as soon as they arrive, There shall be a sign inside the polling place indicating the location of the priority or express lane, and who can avail of the same SECTION 37. EMERGENCY ACCESSIBLE POLLING PLACE (EAPP). — IP voters who are PWD, SC or heavily pregnant shall be allowed to avail of the EAPP, in case one is established in the AVC or voting center where the E-SPP, or C-SPP Type B is assigned. This provision shall not apply to IP voters assigned in the SVR and IP-EAPP. RULE Ix DISPOSITION OF ELECTION MATERIALS, DOCUMENTS AND SUPPLIES SECTION 38. DISPOSITION OF ELECTION MATERIALS, DOCUMENTS AND SUPPLIES. ~ Article XII of Resolution No. 10727 on disposition of documents shall apply in the AVC and E-SPP. SECTION 39. DISPOSITION OF ELECTION DOCUMENTS IN THE SVR AND IP-EAPP. - The SS shall deliver to the EO the EDCVL-IP, PCVL-IP, log book and other election paraphernalia used in the SVR or IP-EAPP. RULE X 9 PREVENTIVE MEASURES SECTION 40. COVID-19 PREVENTIVE MEASURES. - The provisions of Minute Resolution No. 21-07497 dated August 25, 2021 and Article XIII of Resolution No. 10727 shall be observed in the AVC, E-SPP and SVR and IP- EAPP. RULE XI MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS SECTION 41. RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES OF FIELD OFFICIALS. — The concerned field officials shall have the following responsibilities and accountabilities: 1 THE MATTER OF Te wl Page ¢APT COMBLEC NEW NORMAL MANUALA. Responsibilities: 1, The EO of the district, city or municipality with AVC, EAPP and C-SPP Type B shall be primarily implementation of this Resolution; and SPP, SVR, IP- responsible in the 2. The concerned PES, RED and ARED shall be responsible in monitoring the compliance of their respective concerned EOs with this Resolution B. Accountabilities: Failure of any of the abovementioned field officials to comply with the provisions of this Resolution shall be charged administratively for dereliction of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance and/or nonfeasance in office and, if found guilty, the corresponding penalty shall be imposed, after due notice and hearing. RULE XII ELECTION FORMS AND SUPPLIES SECTION 42. ELECTION FORMS, DOCUMENTS AND SUPPLIES FOR FTS AND ELECTION DAY. - The forms, materials and supplies provided in Article Vil of Resolution No. 10727 shall be provided to the AVC and E-SPP during the PTS and on election day. SECTION 43. MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES ON ELECTION DAY FOR THE C- SPPs IN THE SVRs AND IP-EAPP. - The SS assigned in the SVR and IP-EAPP shall secure the following materials and supplies on election day: FROM THE CITY OR MUNICIPAL TREASURER _ELECTION FROMS Poster Indicating the | A3__ | Established Precinct subject 1 Piece of the SPP or AVC ah Minutes of Voting and 5 Pisce Counting \ ae Al2 Paper Seal 10 | Pieces Certificate of Receipt of Al4 | Forms and Supplies by the 3 Pieces EB | ENVELOPES FOR VOTING AND COUNTING At most 10. (depending on | | For the ballots from the | the organization A145 | precincts with qualified IP of the planed voters established precincts for the | : - SPP/AVC) _ - Al7 For Minutes of Voting 2 | Pieces | OTHER FORMSWaiver/Authorization form | Depending the Annex A | to be signed by IP Voters and| number of Pieces EB Support Staff _Register Voters _ Temporary appointment of A30/A31| Chairman/Poll Clerk/Third 10 Pieces _Member/Support Stal Certificate of Challenge or A38__|_ Protest and Decision of the 10 Pieces EB ath of Voter Challenge for A39 legal Acts 10 Pieces Oath of Identification of 5 ap challenged Voter 8 iis SUPPLIES _ [ Bond Paper(Long) 7 20 Pieces Ballot Secrecy Folder 12” Pieces - Thumbprint Taker 1 Piece Indelible Stain Ink 2 [Bottles | Marking Pens 20 Pieces Ball pen 4 Pieces | RULE XII MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS SECTION 44. DATA REPOSITORY. - The VSO, with the assistance of other concerned Departments/Offices of the Commission, shall be primarily responsible in the safekeeping and custody of all data, reports and any other documents submitted or gathered from the field offices relative to the implementation of this Resolution. SECTION 45. POST ELECTION ASSESSMENT AND SUBMISSION OF FINAL REPORT TO THE EN BANC. - To determine the result of the implementation of this Resolution the VSO shall conduct post-election assessment immediately after elections when these General Instructions have been implemented. A final Post Assessment Report on the implementation of this Resolution, including a gender disaggregated data on IP voters voting in the AVC, SPP-E, SVR and C-SPP Type B shall be submitted to the En Banc by the VSO one (1) month after the conduct thereof. SECTION 46.SUPPLEMENTARY CLAUSE.- The other provisions of Resolution No. 10727 and other relevant Resolutions of the Commission, in so far as they are applicable and not otherwise inconsistent with this Resolution, shall remain in force and shall be suppletory to this Resolution. SECTION 47. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. - If any section or portion of this Resolution is declared illegal or invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain valid and effective. SECTION 48. DISSEMINATION. ~ The VSO shall disseminate this Resolution to all concerned OREDs, OPESs and OEOs. 161°10767 The concerned OEOs shall provide copies of this Resolution to all candidates, political parties, citizens’ arms, civic organizations, if any, and other stakeholders within their respective jurisdictions. SECTION 49. IMPLEMENTATION. - The VSO shalll implement this Resolution, in coordination with the Office of the Deputy Executive Director for Operations, Election and Barangay Affairs Department, Finance Services Department, Procurement Management Department, Administrative Services Department. Personnel Department, Election Records and Statistics Department and the Education and Information Department. SECTION 50. EFFECTIVITY. ~ The Education and Information Department shall cause the publication of this Resolution in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines and shall take effect immediately after such publication. SO ORDERED. SAIDAMEN B. PANGARUNGAN Chairman SOCORRO B. INTING MARLON S. CASQUEJO Commissioner Commissioner AIMEE P. FEROLINO REY EB. BULAY Commissioner Commissioner AIMEE TORREFRANCA-NERI GEORGE ERWIN M. GARCIA Commissioner Commissioner CERTIFICATION APPROVED by the commission En Bane during its regular online meeting on March 9, 2022, pursuant to Comelec Resolution No. 10671, “Supplemental Resolution No. 9936 promulgated March 25, 2015, Rule on the Enactment and Promulgation of Executive or Administrative Resolutions providing for other format of meetings to include online meeting applicable in times of the COVID. 19 pandemic and the imposition of community Quarantines and similar emergency situations” ens Mle DIOLA Acting Comelec Secretary 17| Page