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King Prajadhipok’s Institute 29

Overseas Voting. Philippine citizens who reside overseas at
the time of an election are eligible to vote for president, vice-president,

senators, and party-list representatives. Applications for overseas
absentee registration were required to be filed 280 calendar days before
the day of the elections.

Election monitoring and security. The COMELEC is also
responsible for the monitoring all the activities of political parties

during the campaign period, and for certifying candidates in all elections.
As necessary, the Commission is also authorized to mobilize the nation’s

security forces – the police and the Armed Forces -- to ensure the safety
of voters and election officials, and the integrity of the election process.

Adjudication. The Commission exercises exclusive first instance
jurisdiction over all contests relating to the elections, election returns,
and qualifications of all elective officials at the regional, provincial, and

city level.

Political Parties and Campaign Finance Monitoring

Political party registration. Any organized group of persons

seeking registration as a national or regional party may file with COMELEC
a “verified” petition, attaching the party constitution and bylaws, platform
and such other relevant information as may be required by COMELEC.

COMELEC requires a party to notify the public of its existence and
establish party chapters in a majority of the country’s regions, and within

each region, a majority of the provinces, towns, and barangays. Religious
sects are prohibited from registering as a political party, and no political