• Comelec is reassuring the public that even if there is brown-out or no electricity due to disconnection from the main power line, each PCO machine is equipped with a battery that will activate and provide power to the PCOs for at least 16 hours.

• Under the present automated voting, if a voter votes for two candidates for President by shading the OVAL figure placed before the names of the 2 presidential candidates, the votes for the two presidential candidates are invalid because the voter OVERVOTED. Because only one (1) presidential candidate will be elected. This will not however invalidate the votes of the voter for the other positions (like Vice President, Senators, Party List, Local Officials) if the voting in the latter positions is done properly and correctly.

• Under the present automated voting, if the voter votes for less than 12 (a maximum of 12 Senators will be elected to the Senate) candidates for senators, his vote is valid. Undervoting does not invalidate the voter’s vote. Overvoting does.

• Voters are reminded not to fold their ballots. After voting, the voter will personally feed or insert his/her ballot into the PCO machine. The voter should wait until his/her ballot he/she inserted in the ballot entry slot of the PCO machine is dropped into the ballot box. If the voter (like an illiterate or disabled person) is unable to feed his ballot into the PCO machine, he/she may be assisted by a member of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI). Each clustered precinct has a Board of Election Inspectors composed of 3 members (Chairman, Poll Clerk, and a third member). The Chairman of the BEI is a public school teacher preferably with a permanent appointment and who served in the 2007 national and local elections. When it is not possible to have a public school teacher as a Chairman, then a private school teacher or a civil service employee or a registered voter of known probity and competence may be appointed. The Municipal or City Election Officer appoints the BEI members.

• One may ask: Can an illiterate or disabled person vote under the automated voting system? Yes, provided such fact is indicated in the Election Day Computerized Voters List (EDCVL) or Voters Registration Record (VRR) or when the disability of the voter is apparent. For example, a voter who had a recent stroke and his hands are trembling and he limps when walking – is an example of a voter whose disability is apparent. An assistor shall prepare the ballot in the presence of the illiterate or the disabled person. The assistor must be of legal age. The assistor may be any of the following:

1) A relative within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity; 2) any person of his confidence who belongs to the same household; or 3) a member of the Board of Election Inspector (BEI).

• A voter need not bring his own pen to use in voting since Comelec provides each clustered precinct with marking pens. However, the voter must leave the marking pen in the polling place after voting. The voter cannot bring home the marking pen.

• A voter should prepare his/-her ballot using the Ballot Secrecy Folder so as not to exhibit the contents of his/her ballot to others. Like in the case of the marking pen, the voter should leave the Ballot Secrecy Folder in the polling place after voting. He cannot bring home the Ballot Secrecy Folder.

Have a joyful day!