Thread by @rapplerdotcom

Ano-ano ang dapat tandaan at paghandaan ng bawat botante sa Mayo 9, 2022? Samahan sina Rappler investigative editor @miriamgracego at election lawyer @13thFool sa episode na ito ng #AskYourElectionLawyer.

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool underscores new guidelines imposed by the Comelec for elections during pandemic: Merong pagkakaiba ngayon ‘yung process ng voting.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Una, single entry point na po lahat ng polling places because bawal pong pumasok nang hindi dumadaan sa body scanner. Kailangan muna i-check whether ‘yung temp mo is 37.5°C and below.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: ‘Pag mas mataas [ang temperature], kailangan pong pagpahingahin kayo nang 5 minutes. If same pa rin ang temp, papadiretsuhin kayo sa isolated polling place o IPP.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Ang presumption, kayo po ay may lagnat, and this is taken as a symptom of COVID-19, and hindi kayo ihahalo with regular voters with normal temperature.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Sa IPP, ang expectation is ang electoral board po ay naka-PPE because the presumption is you have COVID-19.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Hindi po tayo puwedeng tanggihan ng Comelec by the sheer fact na infected ka ng COVID-19, because the right to vote is a guaranteed right under the Constitution.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Even if COVID-19 positive kayo, may karapatan pa rin kayong bumoto. ‘Yun nga lang, hindi ka ihahalo with the regular voters.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: After the temperature check, you have to go to the voters’ assistance desk or VAD.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Ang mangyayari dito, ibibigay ang pangalan mo, hahanapin sa computer, at ibibigay ang precinct mo. Ito ‘yung changes na hindi natin na-experience in the past elections.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Meron ding basic minimum health standards such as social distancing, so mas kaunti ‘yung maaaccommodate na tao at a time.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Kailangan magdala ng sariling ballpen ang mga botante para sa pagpirma sa voters’ list. Sa pagboto sa balota, gagamitin pa rin natin ang pentel pen as provided by the electoral board.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool says vaccination is not a requirement to vote. Neither is a booster shot. Vaccination cards are not required in the polling place.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool says however that wearing a face mask and a face shield is mandatory in areas under Alert Level 3 or 4. For areas under Alert Level 1 or 2, face shield is not mandatory.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool Do voters need to present any IDs at the polling precinct?

@13thFool: This is a very common misconception na kailangang mag-present ng ID para bumoto.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Meron po tayong election day computerized voters’ list (EDCVL). Meron itong picture, full name, address, signature. Para na rin pong ID ‘yan.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: However, kahit hindi required ‘yung ID, if in case na may question as regards your identity, ang manner of resolving that is you will need to prove your identity, and you may need to present an ID.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Hindi siya required, pero for safety purposes, magdala ng ID kasi hindi natin alam baka may mag-question ng identity natin. Dapat ready tayo.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool Comelec has a designated place for vulnerable sectors. Who are included in the vulnerable sectors?

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool says these include PWDs, senior citizens: But ang requirement po ng Comelec is nakatala ito sa registration record. Naka-indicate sa record mo na you are a PWD or a senior citizen, and in-elect mo na bumoto sa accessible polling place.

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Ang accessible polling place ay special area na mas malapit sa gate, nasa 1st floor, mas accessible, hindi na kailangang maglakad o umakyat.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool When can a voter be denied to cast their vote?

@13thFool: ‘Pag may indelible ink ‘yung forefinger sa right hand, kahit nando’n pangalan mo sa EDCVL, hindi ka na pabobotohin. That is a conclusive presumption na kayo po ay bumoto na.
#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Another is noncompliance with COVID protocol, refusal to use masks, to undergo body scanning, social distancing, puwede kayong ma-deny sa pagboto.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Puwede ring i-challenge ng watchers kung may allegations na ikaw ay tumanggap ng pera, o ikaw ay disqualified, o nag-claim ka ng local absentee voting.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool reminds voters: ‘Wag po tayong tumanggap ng balotang punit, may dumi, o may boto na. Pagkabigay sa’yo ng balota, bago ilagay sa secrecy folder, i-inspect nang mabuti.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Kasi ‘pag nakaalis na kayo sa electoral board, kung may dumi man o may boto na, ang presumption ay kayo ang gumawa. Before leaving the counter, inspect your ballots.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool says both the front and back pages of the ballot should have print.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool How do we shade the ovals on the ballots?

.@13thFool: Dapat fully-shaded. Hindi puwedeng ekis o check. Buong-buo dapat ang pag-shade.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: In the past, naging issue ang threshold. Sa ilalim ng rules ng Comelec, may certain percentage na mapuno ang oval para ma-count as a valid vote.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: But to be safe, I would recommend na ‘wag nang kala-kalahati lang. Tutal bumoboto na tayo, pumila na tayo, ayusin na natin ‘yung pagboto. Fully-shaded na ‘yung gawin natin.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Habang nakapasok ang balota mo sa secrecy folder, please make sure na walang nakakakita ng inyong balota, at kayo mismo ang magfi-feed doon sa makina.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Sa pagpasok ng balota sa makina, walang correct side ‘yan. Kahit anong orientation, babasahin ng makina. After no’n, may lalabas na voter’s receipt.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Ang rule ng Comelec, dapat sikreto rin ang voter’s receipt katulad ng balota. Dapat walang nakakakita nito, not even ‘yung teacher. Dapat po nakatupi ito, hindi kita ang boto ‘nyo.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Please make sure na ma-check ang voter’s receipt bago ito mailagay sa voter verifiable paper audit trail box. Tingnan ‘nyo kung tama o mali ang pagbilang ng makina ng inyong balota.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool reminds voters that taking photos of your ballot or voter’s receipt is prohibited: That is an election offense at puwede po tayong makasuhan if we do that.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool explains how the tallying works: Every time na nagfi-feed ang voter ng balota doon sa makina, binibilang na ng makina.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Ang final tally, saka lang lumalabas ‘pag nagsara na ang botohan, but the votes are counted as the ballots are being fed.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool Bakit tinatawag na “partial unofficial” ang tallies sa news reports?

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Tatlo ang sinesendan ng bawat VCM ng election results: Comelec server, board of canvassers, at transparency servers. Ang website ng Comelec, sa Comelec server. ‘Yung sa media, galing sa transparency server.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Unofficial because hindi po siya dumaan sa ladderized system of transmission.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Ang official result, ito po ‘yung pinadala mula sa VCM (machine), papunta sa board of canvassers from municipal to national. ‘Yung pinapasa-pasa na data, ‘yon lang po ang official results.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Under the Constitution, ang may jurisdiction to canvass and proclaim candidates for pres and VP, ang naatasan po ‘yung Kongreso.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Sa party list and senatorial candidates, ang naatasan po ay Comelec acting as national board of canvassers.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool Kailan puwedeng lapitan ang mga botante ng kandidato, campaigners, men in uniform, at mga nag-eexit polls?

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: As regards candidates and campaigners, you have to take note na a day before election, prohibited na ang campaigning. ‘Pag may nangampanya sa May 8 hanggang election day, it is an election offense.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Members of AFP and PNP, prohibited po sila na pumasok sa polling place except kung boboto po sila. Bawal po sila sa loob.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: As regards the exit polls, after po kayong bumoto. In-affirm ng Korte Suprema na part ng speech ang pagsagawa ng exit polls, but subject to the condition that the results can only be revealed after the closing of the polls.

@miriamgracego @13thFool Kailan malalaman ang count mula sa overseas votes?

@13thFool: Iba ang procedure doon kasi mas mahaba ang election period overseas. Dito sa local, one day lang: May 9, 2022.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: In the case of overseas voting, magsa-stop ang voting simultaneous sa pag-stop sa Pilipinas. Saka sila magcacanvass at saka ang resulta dadalhin sa Pilipinas.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool .@13thFool: Walang electronic transmission, the [overseas votes] have to be manually carried pabalik either sa board of canvassers o sa Kongreso.

#AskYourElectionLawyer:

@miriamgracego @13thFool And that’s a #wRap! Watch the full episode of #AskYourElectionLawyer here: