How voters can report poll-related violations during 2022 elections

May 4, 2022 - 6:40 PM
2224
Comelec final ballot face
A copy of the ballot face template for the 2022 national and local elections as shared by the Commission on Elections on its Facebook page on Jan. 24, 2022. (Photo from Facebook/COMELEC)

Filipinos are encouraged to report any form of poll-related violations through a QR code or a website link during the elections day itself.

iDefend on Wednesday launched a reporting mechanism in which the public can just scan a code or go to a website to report offenses such as the following:

  • Voter harassment
  • Killing
  • Physical assault
  • Kidnapping
  • Causing chaos in polling places
  • Scaring the community

They must also indicate details of the incident such as how it happened, the day, time, people involved and the location.

The 2022 national and local elections will be held on May 9, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

According to the Omnibus Election Code, the following are some of the election offenses:

  • Vote buying and selling
  • Wagering upon the result of election
  • Carrying firearms outside residences or establishments
  • Anyone who votes more than once in the same election
  • Anyone who holds fairs, cockfights, boxing, horse races, jai-alai or any other similar sports on election days
  • Anyone who takes a picture of their accomplished ballot or voting receipt

A full list of the violations is available on Comelec’s website.

RELATED: Your guide to voting on elections day

“Every Filipino has a Constitutional right to participate in a safe, peaceful and fair electoral process, where they can vote freely and without coercion, candidates for national and local posts,” iDefend spokesperson Judy Pasimio said in a release.

“Electoral violations such as vote-buying, electoral fraud, intimidation, and threats of violence, impede on the people’s right to suffrage and truthful representation. In turn, these violations compromise the people’s trust in the government, foment discontent and pose a risk to political stability,” she added.

iDefend is part of the Bantay Karapatan sa Halalan, a monitoring initiative led by the Commission on Human Rights.