be assigned in connection with the performance of their election duties to
places where they are not registered voters.
Block Voting
There is no longer block voting under current Philippine Election
Laws, having been expressly prohibited by Art. IX-C, Sec. 7 of the 1987
Constitution.
However, it must be noted that under the party-list system, votes
may be counted in favor of political parties, organizations or coalitions
rendered under said system.
This, in a way, may be construed as the
exception to the prohibition on block voting.
Voting Hours
GENERAL RULE:
The casting of votes shall be at 7 a.m. and
shall end at 3 p.m.
84
EXCEPTION:
When there are voters present within 30 meters in
front of the polling place who have not yet cast their votes, in which
case the voting shall continue but only to allow said voters to cast
their votes without interruption. The poll clerk shall prepare a
complete list containing the names of said voters consecutively
numbered, and the voters so listed shall be called to vote by
announcing each name repeatedly three times in the order in
which they are listed. Any voter in the list who is not present when
his name is called out shall not be permitted to vote.
Board of Election Inspectors
At least 30 days before the date when the voters list is to be
prepared, in the case of a regular election or 15 days before a special
election, the COMELEC shall, directly or through its duly authorized
representatives, constitute a board of election inspectors for each precinct.
Composition
The Board of Election Inspectors is composed of three (3)
persons, namely:
•
chairman
•
poll clerk
•
member
The entire Board shall be composed of public school teachers,
priority to be given to those with permanent appointments. (
Sec. 164, BP
881, as amended by Sec. 13, R.A. 6646)
However, in case there are not
enough public school teachers, the following may be appointed for election
duty:
•
teachers in private schools;
•
employees in the civil service; or
•
other citizens of known probity and competence
who are registered voters of the city or
municipality
Qualifications
1)
public school teachers
2)
be of good moral character and irreproachable reputation
3)
a registered voter of the City or municipality
4)
never been convicted of any election offense or any other crime
punishable by more than 6 months imprisonment
5)
able to speak and write English or the local dialect
Disqualifications
1)
must not be related within the 4
th
civil degree by consanguinity or
affinity to any member of the BEI or to any candidate to be voted
for in the polling places
2)
must not engage in any partisan political activity
Powers of the Board of Election Inspectors
(Sec. 168, BP 881)
The board of election inspectors shall have the following powers
and functions:
•
Conduct the voting and counting of votes in their respective
polling places;
•
Act as deputies of the Commission in the supervision and
control of the election in the polling places wherein they are
assigned, to assure the holding of the same in a free,
