Local Absentee Voting Act

Section 1

Any bona fide non partisan group, association or organization from the civic, youth, professional, educational, business or labor sectors with identifiable leadership, membership and structure, and with demonstrated capacity to promote the public interest and assist the Commission in the performance of its functions and activities as mandated by the Constitution and by law, may be accredited as citizens' arms of the Commission.

Section 2

The group, association or organization mentioned in Section 1 hereof may file a petition for accreditation duly verified by its President, Chairman of the Board of Directors, or any of its duly authorized officer.

Section 3

The petition shall state the following: (a) The constituency to which petitioner seeks accreditation; (b) That it is not supporting any candidate, political party, organization or coalition of political parties, in the constituency where it seeks accreditation; (c) Nature of its membership (whether civic, youth etc.); names of its officers or organizers, location of principal office or place of business and an assurance of its capability to undertake a coordinated operation and activity to assist the Commission; (d) That it shall submit itself to the direct and immediate control and supervision and comply with the orders of the Commission in the performance of its specific functions and activities provided by law, and such other functions and activities provided by law, and such other functions and activities which the Commission may assign; (e) That it shall strictly remain non-partisan and impartial during the registration and election periods; (f) That it is not supported by or under the influence of any foreign government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities; or of any foreigner, whether natural or juridical person; (g) That it shall not solicit or receive, directly or indirectly, any contribution or aid of whatever form or nature from any foreign government, or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, or from any foreigner, a natural or juridical person; (h) That it does not seek to achieve its objectives, goals or programs through violence or other unlawful means, nor aim to propagate any ideology opposed to the principles of a republican and democratic government; and (i) That it undertakes to police its ranks and prevent infiltration by persons or groups of persons who may, directly or indirectly, destroy its character of non-partisanship and impartially.

Section 4

Upon the filing of the petition, the Commission en banc shall immediately set it for hearing. The Commission may, if it deems necessary, order the publication of the petition in a newspaper of general circulation at the expense of the petitioner.

Section 5

Any person, group, association or organization, political party or coalition of political parties possessing relevant information or evidence against the petitioner may oppose its accreditation by filing a verified opposition. Notwithstanding the absence of any opposition, the Commission may motu proprio require the petitioner to present evidence to support its petition.

Section 6

The decision of the Commission granting the petition may provide conditions to be strictly complied with by the petitioner.

Section 7

If the decision is for the accreditation of the petitioner, the Commission shall issue a certificate of accreditation containing the following: (a) The name of the group or organization; (b) The constituency to which it is accredited; and (c) The political exercise for which it is accredited.

Section 8

After its accreditation, the petitioner shall submit to the Election Registrars in the constituency where it is accredited, the names and addresses of its local representatives who shall act as non-partisan watchers and substitute watchers therein during the entire electoral exercise.

Section 9

Unless the impartiality or non-partisanship of the members concerned is questioned in writing, the Election Registrar shall extend the corresponding appointments to such members as poll watchers stating therein the precincts to which they are assigned. The members so appointed shall have the same duties, functions, and rights as watchers of registered political parties, organization or coalition of political parties.

Section 10

The accreditation of any group, association or organization as Citizens' Army may be revoked by the Commission after notice and hearing, whenever it shows or acts with partiality in any political issue or to any political party, organization or coalition of political parties, or has performed acts in excess of its duties and functions as provided by law, or has failed to comply with the conditions imposed upon it in the decision granting accreditation.

Section 11

The accreditation shall automatically lapse at the end of the election period of the political exercise for which the petitioner was accredited as citizens' arm.