The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday reminded voters to be mindful of the actions of all candidates for next year’s national and local elections, urging them not to vote for those who violate the country’s election laws.

Lawyer Ferdinand Rafanan, Comelec’s law department chief, said that while the poll body cannot dictate who to vote in the coming May 10, 2010 general elections, it can teach the public how to become intelligent and mature voters.

“Do not vote for those who are not complying with the election law.

If they (candidates) cannot comply with the election law, we cannot expect them to follow other laws when they are in power,” Rafanan said at the weekly “Kapihan sa Sulo” forum in Quezon City.

Rafanan said money, popularity, and “winnability” should not be among the factors that voters should consider in choosing the country’s next set of leaders.

“The candidates must have the will to obey the election law, the intelligence and competence, spirit and vision, and heart or character.

But we will not name who they are,” he said.

The Comelec official also warned voters against premature campaigning by some candidates and other violations of the Omnibus Election Code.

He said the electorate must be wary about a candidate who gives out expensive gifts this coming Christmas, especially if it is something that he never did in past Christmases where there were no elections scheduled the following year.

Voters, he added, should not choose candidates who repair roads, schools, and bridges, or give money and free transportation, free food and drinks, free medicines, and other material things during the campaign period.

He said candidates and their relatives are also not allowed to distribute relief goods and financial assistance to victims of calamities and disasters as this is considered an act of vote-buying.

Charitable institutions and groups like the Red Cross, Rotary Club, Lions Club and Jaycees, who are non-partisan or not identified with any candidate, are the only ones allowed to perform charity works during election period, he added.

Rafanan, however, said that medical missions and charitable works in support of a particular candidate is prohibited under the law since it is also a form of vote-buying.