Section 2Sec./Art. 2

(a.) Board of Canvassers. There shall be a board of canvassers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for the purpose of the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and a provincial board of canvassers in each province therein as follows:

1. Regional Board of Canvassers.The regional board of canvassers shall canvass the certificates of canvass, which shall be accompanied by the statement of votes by precincts, prepared and submitted to it by the provincial board of canvassers for the positions of regional governor and vice-governor and on the basis thereof, proclaim as elected, the candidates for regional governor and vice-governor who obtained the highest number of votes in the entire autonomous region.

The regional board of canvassers shall be composed of a ranking lawyer of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) as chairman, a representative likewise of equivalent rank in the Department of Justice as vice-chairman, in the Department of Education, Culture and Sports as member-secretary. However, in case of non-availability, absence or disqualification due to relationship or incapacity for any cause, the COMELEC shall appoint other representatives from the different agencies of the government, as substitutes.

2. The Provincial Board of Canvassers.The provincial board of canvassers shall canvass the election returns, copy for the provincial board of canvassers or any other authentic copy of such election returns, and on the basis thereof, proclaim as elected, the first three (3) candidates for assemblyman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao receiving the highest number of votes in each legislative district of the province.

The provincial board of canvassers shall be composed of the provincial election supervisor of the province concerned or a ranking lawyer of the COMELEC as chairman, the provincial prosecutor as vice-chairman, and the division superintendent of schools as member-secretary. However, in case of non-availability, absence or disqualification due to relationship or incapacity for any cause, the COMELEC shall appoint such lawyers of the Commission as substitutes.

b. Number of Copies of Election Returns, Their Preparation and Their Distribution.The board of election inspectors shall prepare in writing the election returns in their respective polling places, or in any other place authorized by the COMELEC, in the number of copies herein provided and in the form to be prescribed by the COMELEC.

The copies of the election returns shall be distributed as follows:

i. The first copy shall be delivered to the provincial board of canvassers;

ii. The second copy, to the regional board of canvassers;

iii. The third copy, to the COMELEC;

iv. The fourth copy shall be deposited inside the compartment of the ballot box for valid ballots;

v. The fifth copy, to be known as advance election returns, shall be delivered to the city or municipal treasurer who, in the presence of the election registrar or his authorized representative, shall immediately and publicly open the same and post the votes therein in an election tally board sufficiently large to enable the public to read them, built on a public place preferably within the immediate vicinity of the city hall or municipal building; and

vi. The sixth and seventh copies, to be known as party copies, shall be furnished the duly authorized representatives in the municipalities concerned of the two (2) major political parties or coalition/alliance of parties presenting candidates in this election.