Lawful election propaganda
Lawful election propaganda shall include:
- Pamphlets, leaflets, cards, decals, stickers, or other written or printed materials the size of which does not exceed 8.5×14 inches;
- Handwritten or printed letters urging voters to vote for or against any candidate;
- Posters made of cloth, paper, cardboard, or any other material, whether framed or posted, with an area not exceeding 2×3 feet;
- Streamers, not exceeding 3×8 feet in size, displayed at the site and on the occasion of a public meeting or rally. Said streamers may be displayed five days before the meeting or rally, and shall be removed withn 24 hours thereafter;
- Mobile units, vehicle motorcades of all types, whether engine or manpower driven, or animal drawn, with or without sound systems or loud speakers and with or without lights;
- Paid advertisements in print or broadcast media subject to limitations provided for in Republic Act 9006
- In headquarters or residences of candidates, lawful election paraphernalia may be displayed but banners or streamers shall not be allowed.
- All other forms of propaganda not prohibited by the OEC or these rules.
Common Poster Areas
- Candidates may post their lawful campaign materials either in (1) authorized common poster areas or (2) private property, with the consent of the owner.
- Posting campaign materials anywhere else – such as streets, bridges, trees, electric posts etc. – is prohibited.
- The designation of common poster areas will be made by the Election Officer by October 5, 2010.
- In each barangay, there can be not more than ten common poster areas, erected in public places. The common poster area shall not exceed 12×16 feet in size.
- Candidates shall be allowed to post only one poster in every common poster area.
Removal of prohibited campaign materials (VERY IMPORTANT!)
Any prohibited form of election propaganda materials will be summarily stopped, confiscated, removed, destroyed or torn down by the representatives of the Commission at the expense of the candidate, organization, or person responsible.
Any person or organization may file with the Commission – thru its field office – a petition to confiscate, remove, destroy, and/or stop the distribution of any propaganda material on the ground that the same is offensive to public morals, libelous, illegal, prohibited, subversive, or irrelevant to the election issues.
The Commission, after summary hearing, shall resolve the petition within six hours from the time it is submitted for decision. Where the parties concerned cannot be contacted or are unknown or refuse to appear at the hearing, the Commission may decide the petition ex parte.
The Commission may, motu proprio, immediately order the removal, destruction and/or confiscation of any prohibited propaganda material or those materials which contain statements or representations that are illegal, prohibited, patently libelous, offensive to public morals, subversive, or which tend to incite sedition or rebellion.
Spending cap
No candidate shall spend for his election campaign an aggregate amount exceeding 3 pesos per registered voter in the barangay where he seeks to be elected.
On the non-partisan character of the B&SK Elections (VERY IMPORTANT!)
- NO PERSON WHO FILES A CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY SHALL REPRESENT OR ALLOW HIMSELF TO BE REPRESENTED AS A CANDIDATE OF ANY POLITICAL PARTY OR ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION.
- No political party or any other organization shall give aid or support, material or otherwise, favorable to, or against any candidate.
- Violation of this rule by any political party, group, or coalition shall be a ground for CANCELLATION OF ITS REGISTRATION WITH THE COMMISSION.
Barangay Assembly and Public Forum
- There will be at least one barangay assembly – during the campaign period – to allow all candidates to present themselves to the barangay.
- During the campaign period, non-political, non-partisan, private or civic organizations may hold, in any barangay, a public forum to which shall be invited ALL candidates.
For more details, download the resolution at the link below.
COMELEC Resolution No. 9043 – Rules and Regulations governing the Campaign