Section 143Sec./Art. 143

Composition and Appointment of Boards of Election Inspectors. - At least thirty days prior to the registration with the board of inspectors in a regular election or, in the case of a special election, on the Saturday following the date of proclamation calling such election, the Commission shall directly or through its duly authorized provincial representatives, appoint a board of election inspectors for each election precinct to be composed of a chairman and four members, one of whom shall be designated concurrently as poll clerk, who shall hold office until their successors are appointed for the next regular election, unless they are sooner relieved.

The chairman, the poll clerk and one member, as well as their corresponding substitutes, shall be public school teachers, precedence being given to civil service eligibles who have been in the service for more than five years and are registered voters of the city, municipality or municipal district. In case of non-availability of public school teachers, the Commission may appoint private school teachers or any officer or employee in the civil service who is a registered voter of the city, municipality or municipal district to fill the vacancies.

Public school teachers who are appointed members of the board of inspectors and their substitutes may vote in their respective precinct where they are assigned on election day: Provided, That they are qualified voters of the city, municipality or municipal district where they are assigned and that before the precinct book of voters are closed and sealed, their approved applications for registration shall have been transferred to the precinct where they are assigned as board members, under such rules that the Commission may provide.

The two members and their substitutes shall be appointed in accordance with the next succeeding section.

In places where the Commission after due notice and hearing considers election violence or terrorism to be imminent, and by reason thereof, public school teachers and their substitutes are unable or unwilling to discharge their duties, the Commission may appoint ROTC cadets, who are at least twenty-one years of age, as members of the board of inspectors to insure free, orderly and honest election therein.