Section 19January 23, 2007, Sec./Art. 19

Section 18 of Republic Act No. 8436 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 22. Electronic Returns. - Each copy of the of the printed election returns shall bear appropriate control marks to determine the time and place of printing. Each copy shall be signed and thumbmarked by all the members of the board of election inspectors and the watchers present.

If any member of the board of election inspectors present refuses to sign, the chairman of the board shall note the same copy in each copy of the printed election returns. The member of the board of election inspectors concerned refusing to sign shall be compelled to explain his or her refusal to do so. Failure to explain an unjustifiable refusal to sign each copy of the printed election return by any member of the board of election inspectors shall be punishable as provided in this Act. The chairman of the boards shall then publicly read and announce the total numbers of registered voters, the total number of voters who actually voted and the total numbers of votes obtained by each candidate based on the election returns.

"Thereafter, the copies of the election returns shall be sealed and placed in the proper envelopes for distribution as follows:

"A. In the election of president, vice-president, senators and party-list system;

1) The first copy shall be delivered to the city or municipal board of canvassers;

2) The second copy, to the congress, directed to the President of the Senate;

3) The third copy, to the commission;

4) The fourth copy, to the citizen's arm authorized by the Commission to conduct an unofficial count

5) The fifth copy, to the dominant majority party as determined by the Commission in accordance with law;

6) The six copy, to the dominant minority party as determined by the Commission in accordance with law; and

7) The seventh copy shall be deposited inside the compartment of the ballot box for valid ballots.

8) The eight copy to the Provincial Board of canvassers;

9) The ninth to the eighteenth copies, shall be given to the ten (10) accredited major national parties, excluding the dominant majority and minority parties, in accordance with a voluntary agreement among them. If no such agreement is reached, the Commission shall decide which parties shall receive the copies on the basis of the criteria provided in Section 26 of Republic Act No. 7166;

10) The nineteenth and twentieth copies, to the two accredited major local parties in accordance with a voluntary agreement among them. If no such agreement is reached, the commission shall decide which parties shall receive the copies on the basis of criteria analogous to that provided in Section 26 of Republic Act No. 7166;

11) The twenty-first to the twenty-fourth copies, to national broadcast or print media entities as may be equitably determined by the Commission in view of propagating the copies to the widest extent possible;

12) The twenty-fifth and twenty-six copies, to local broadcast or print media entities as may be equitably determined by the Commission in view of propagating the copies to the widest extent possible; and

13) The twenty-seventh to the thirtieth copies, to the major citizen's arms, including the accredited citizen's arm, and other non-partisan groups or organization enlisted by the Commission pursuant to Section 52(k) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881. Such citizens' arm, groups and organization may use the four certified copies of election returns for the conduct of citizens' quick counts at the local or national levels;

"B. In the election of local officials and members of the House of Representatives:

1) The First copy shall be delivered to the city or municipal board of canvassers;

2) The second copy, to the Commission;

3) The third copy, to the provincial board of canvassers;

4) The fourth copy, to the citizens' arm authorized by the Commission to conduct an unofficial count;

5) The fifth copy, to the dominant majority party as determined by the Commission in accordance with law;

6) The sixth copy, to the dominant minority party as determined by the Commission in accordance with law; and

7) The seventh copy shall be deposited inside the copy shall deposited inside the compartment of the ballot box for valid ballots.

8) The eight copy to be posted conspicuously on a wall within the premises of the polling place or counting center;

9) The ninth to the eighteenth copies, shall be given to the ten (10) accredited major national parties, excluding the dominant majority and minority parties, in accordance with a voluntary agreement among them. If no such agreement is reached, the Commission shall decide which parties shall receive the copies on the basis of the criteria provided in Section 26 of Republic Act No. 7166;

10) The nineteenth and twentieth copies shall be given to the two accredited major local parties in accordance with a voluntary agreement among them. If no such agreement is reached, the Commission shall decide which parties shall receive the copies on the basis of criteria analogous to that provided in Section 26 of republic Act No. 7166;

11) The twenty-first to the twenty-fifth copies, to national broadcast or print media entities as may be equitably determined by the Commission in view of propagating the copies to the widest extent possible;

12) The twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh copies, to local broadcast or print media entities as may be equitably determined by the Commission in view of propagating the copies to the widest extent possible; and

13) The twenty-eighth to the thirtieth copies to the major citizens' arms, including the accredited citizens' arm, and other non-partisan groups or organization enlisted by the Commission pursuant to section 52(k) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881. Such citizens' arms, groups and organization may use the five certified copies of election returns for the conduct of citizens' quick counts at the local or national levels.

"Immediately after the eight copy is printed, the poll clerk shall announce the posting of said copy on a wall within the premises of the polling place or counting center, which must be sufficiently lighted and accessible to the public. Any person may view or capture an image of the election return by means of any data capturing device such as, but not limited to cameras at any time of the day for forty-eight (48) hours following its posting. After such period, the chairman of the board of election inspectors shall detach the election return from the wall and keep the same in his custody to be produced as may be requested by any voter for image or data capturing or for any lawful purpose as may be ordered by competent authority.

"Within one hour after the printing of the election returns, the chairman of the board of election inspectors or any official authorized by the Commission shall, in the presence of watchers and representatives of the accredited citizens' arm, political parties/candidates, if any, electronically transmit the precinct results to the respective levels of board of canvassers, to the dominant majority and minority party, to the accredited citizen's arm, and to the Kapisanan ng mga Brodcaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) .

"The election results at the city/municipality canvassing centers shall be transmitted in the same manner by the election officer or any official authorized by the commission to the district or provincial canvassing centers.

"The election returns transmitted electronically and digitally signed shall be considered as official election results and shall be used as the basis for the canvassing of votes and the proclamation of a candidate."

"After the electronic results have been transmitted additional copies not to exceed thirty (30) may be printed and given to requesting parties at their own expense."