Marilyn Cahatol

Members of the Electoral Board and poll watchers conduct their final testing and sealing of vote counting machines at Melencio M. Castelo Elementary School in Quezon City on Tuesday, with 5 days before the national elections. Around 65.7million domestic voters are expected to cast their votes for national and local positions for the May 9 election. 

Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

PH ELECTION

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174704659470620220503-election-vcm-testing-qc-md-27.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Members of the Electoral Board and poll watchers conduct their final testing and sealing of vote counting machines at Melencio M. Castelo Elementary School in Quezon City on Tuesday, with 5 days before the national elections. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of the Electoral Board and poll watchers conduct their final testing and sealing of vote counting machines at Melencio M. Castelo Elementary School in Quezon City on Tuesday, with 5 days before the national elections. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA —  Poll watchers are accredited individuals inside a voting precinct apart from members of the electoral board, as per the Commission on Elections. </p><p>Here are the responsibilities of a poll watcher for the national and local elections (NLE) 2025:</p><ol style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p>To observe alongside the Electoral Board;</p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p>To record and take receipts (photos or videos) of suspicious activities in the voting center, and;</p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p>To receive copies of the electoral returns</p></li></ol><p>Poll watchers are however not allowed to be the assistant in shading or even viewing the ballots of voters like senior citizens or persons with disability (PWDs). </p><div><strong>WHO ARE QUALIFIED TO BE POLL WATCHERS?</strong></div><p>According to the Omnibus Election Code, any individual can be qualified as a poll watcher appointed by registered political parties, an accredited citizens’ arm like the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, and independent running candidates.</p><p>A qualified poll watcher must fit the following criteria:</p><ol style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p>Must be registered Filipino voter;</p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p>Not a government official nor part of law enforcement;</p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p>Not related to either the chair or any member of the Board of Electoral inspectors up to second degree of consanguinity or affinity in their designated polling place;</p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p>Bear proof of appointment as a poll watcher</p></li></ol><p>Poll watchers who do not fit the said criteria may be reported to the electoral board or Comelec.</p><div><strong>WHAT ARE THEY EXPECTED TO DO?</strong></div><p>Poll watchers are expected to stay in their designated or reserved space inside the polling place but must not intervene with voters.</p><p>Patrick Allere, a poll watcher from Parañaque City, explained that his responsibility starts with punctuality and alertness in observing. He is an appointed poll watcher for a running candidate.</p><p>“Magkakaroon pa ng briefing [every elections] sa [poll] watchers para ma-remind kung anu-ano ang mga roles na dapat naming gawin during election day,” Allere asserted when asked about required trainings to become a poll watcher.</p><p>Meanwhile, Article XV Section 180 of the Omnibus Election Code authorizes the presence of poll watchers from citizens’ arm like the PPCRV.</p><p>This year, Kirsten Heart Galvez from Mandaluyong City is a PPCRV poll watcher from Our Lady of Fatima Parish. She believes that as a youth volunteer and poll watcher, her main role is to assist voters on the election day.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/10/-halalan2025-what-are-the-roles-of-ppcrv-volunteers-1145">#Halalan2025: What are the roles of PPCRV volunteers?</a></div><p>“Making sure there’s no cheating, no vote buying, double-checking the tally, observing voters, and ensuring there’s no chaos inside the precinct,” Galvez enumerated her responsibilities.</p><p>All poll watchers to serve on the 2025 National and Local Elections must be accredited by the Commission on Elections prior to the election day.</p><p>As volunteers, poll watchers from candidates or citizens’ arms’ appointment are not hired by COMELEC or the government and are not considered as employees with election allowance. </p><div><a href="http://Teachers, poll workers to get P2,000 increase in election allowance">Teachers, poll workers to get P2,000 increase in election allowance</a></div><p>Meanwhile, teachers and other poll workers are to receive an increase in their election allowance as per the Department of Budget and Management. </p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YoohjO-PWEI?si=6gL9t5dJptK_a4vC" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Poll watchers are accredited individuals inside a voting precinct apart from members of the electoral board, as per the Commission on Elections.</p>

Poll watchers are accredited individuals inside a voting precinct apart from members of the electoral board, as per the Commission on Elections.

#Halalan2025: What are the responsibilities of poll watchers?

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#Halalan2025: What are the responsibilities of poll watchers?

ABS-CBN News,

Sharona Nicole Semilla

Published May 12, 2025 07:17 PM PHT

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Halalan 2025

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