TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) AUG -4 P5:06 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED 3 S. No. 841 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 185 OF THE OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7904, BY ABOLISHING THE PRINTING AND MAILING OF THE VOTERS INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTION SHEET EXPLANATORY NOTE The Voters Information and Instruction Sheet is a useful reference for the voting public as they exercise their right to suffrage. It is a personalized document containing the name and address of the voter, place where one is registered to vote, the exact precinct where one should go to come election time, and simplified instructions/reminders on the proper casting of votes. It also contains the list of candidates running for different positions in a given locality. The Omnibus Election Code prescribes that such document be sent by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to every voter at least thirty (30) days before an election. But there have been persistent complaints about getting the information and instruction sheet too late, while some have not received theirs at all. For the 2022 national and local elections, COMELEC has only distributed 43 million out of the total 67.4 million information sheets just a week before the polling
date!. During the 2019 elections, COMELEC discovered errors in the printing of voters' information sheet and ordered to stop the distribution of the same as it "could have confused the voters" and "could have resulted in a failure of elections."? Considering the presence of digital technologies, other alternative modes of publication, and more effective means of disseminating information such as online platforms that could still achieve the same intention of educating and guiding the voters, the production and distribution of physical or printed copies of millions of voters' information sheet are just too costly and outdated. A total of P355.224 million were spent for this purpose in 2022. This staggering amount could have been diverted for other election-related expenses, such as increase in the honoraria for teachers who serve during the elections. In view of more efficient use of taxpayers' money and public funds, the abolition of the printing and mailing of Voters' Information and Instruction Sheet, as recommended by the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation during the 19th Congress, is hereby proposed. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 1 "43M voter's information sheets for Eleksyon 2022 distributed nationwide -Comelec." May 2, 2022. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/830380/43m-voter-s-information-sheets-for- eleksyon-2022-distributed-nationwide-comelec/story/ 2 "Comelec exec: NPO 'subcontracted' printing of voter information sheet." May 15, 2019 https://newsinfo.inguirer.net/1119187/comelec-exec-npo-subcontracted-printing-of-voter-information-sheet
fire of t TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) AUG -4 P5:06 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED SY S. No. 841 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 185 OF THE OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7904, BY ABOLISHING THE PRINTING AND MAILING OF THE VOTERS INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTION SHEET Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Section 185 of the Omnibus Election Code, as amended, is hereby
further amended to read as follows: "SEC. 185. Official Sample Ballots. - The Commission shall provide the board of election inspectors with official sample ballots at the rate of thirty (30) ballots per polling place. The official sample ballots shall be printed on colored paper, in all respects like the official ballots but bearing instead the words 'Official Sample Ballot' to be shown to the public and used in demonstrating how to fill out and fold the official ballots properly. No name of any actual candidate shall be written on the spaces for voting on the official sample ballots provided by the Commission, nor shall they be used for voting. "At least thirty (30) days before an election, it shall be the duty of the Commission on Elections to [furnish every registered voter through registered mail with return card,
personal service with corresponding receipt to be signed by the voter or any person who knows the voter, or any other practicable means with an unfilled official sample ballot, voter information sheet,] PUBLICIZE THE UNFILLED OFFICIAL SAMPLE BALLOT IN THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE COMMISSION AND THROUGH BROADCAST, DIGITAL, ELECTRONIC OR ONLINE MEDIA, AS WELL AS POST THE SAME INFORMATION AT CONSPICUOUS PUBLIC AREAS IN EVERY BARANGAY DURING THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS, INCLUDING BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS, and [a] THE list of all registered [national, provincial and city] candidates to be voted in the said election. [The information sheet shall include the voter's name, address, the precinct and the place where he is registered, and simplified instructions-as to the casting of votes.] The names of the candidates shall be listed in alphabetical order under their respective party affiliation, IF ANY [and a one line statement not to exceed three (3) words of their occupation or profession]: Provided, however, That in the [printing] POSTING of the names of the candidates for national offices, the alphabetical order shall be democratized SUCH THAT NAMES OF CANDIDATES ARE SHOWN IN EQUAL PROMINENCE. [so that the listed names shall be made in three (3) columns: the first column shall commence with the letter A and end with the letter Z; the second column shall commence with the letters 'I-Z' and thereafter 'A H] and the third column shall commence with the letters 'Q Z' and thereafter 'A P'. These information may be contained in a single sheet or booklet form, and the number and location of the voters' polling place shall be prominently indicated therein.] Persons nominated under the
party-list system SHALL likewise be included in the abovementioned list."
Sec. 2. The information to be publicized or posted under Section 1 of this Act
shall be in any of the official languages of the Republic of the Philippines or in the 5 dialect understood by a majority of the voters in the region where the information is directed.
Sec. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules and
regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,