All You Need To Know: What not to do on election eve
THE campaign period for the May 14 Barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections ends on 11:59 p.m. of Saturday, May 12.
Among the prohibited acts 24 hours before Election Day as stated in the Resolution 10246 are as follows:
1. Campaigning (Section 3 of Omnibus Election Code)
Commission on Election (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez said all forms of campaigning stop a day before election day, including the posting and distributing of any campaign leaflets and other paraphernalia, the holding of any political conventions, meetings and parade to promote a candidate, as well as television advertisements in support to any candidates if any.
He said such prohibition also applies during the Election Day, although he admitted that there were instances that several people continuously distributed campaign paraphernalia particularly outside the schools that serve as polling centers.
2. Selling, furnishing, offering buying, serving or taking intoxicating liquor (Section 261 of Omnibus Election Code)
Exempted from this prohibition are the hotels and other establishments duly certified by the Tourism department as tourist oriented and habitually in the business of catering to foreign tourists. Prior authority from Comelec is, however, required.
3. Opening booths or stalls for the sale of water, merchandise or refreshments within a 30-meter radius from the polling place (Section 261 (dd) (2) of Omnibus Election Code)
Such provision also applies during the Election Day and during the counting of votes.
4. Giving, accepting free transportation, food, drinks and things of value (Section 89 of Omnibus Election Code)
These are on top of other prohibited acts during the election period such as vote-buying/ vote selling, transfer or movement of officers or employees in the civil service, suspension of elective local officials, carrying of firearms and other deadly weapons outside the residence, use of security personnel or bodyguards by the candidates without authorization from the Comelec, organization of reaction forces and alteration of territory of a precinct or the establishment of new polling precincts.
Any person found guilty of any election offense shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years and shall not be subject to probation. (Section 264 of Omnibus Election Code)
Meanwhile, any candidate who will be found guilty of any election offense shall be disqualified from holding any public office and deprived of the right to suffrage.