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MANILA, Philippines – Members of the media who will be busy on election day are now assured of an early voting period.
President Benigno Aquino III has signed the reconciled version of House Bill 4241 and Senate Bill 1198 into law, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on Friday, March 15.
Republic Act 10380, or the Act Providing for Local Absentee Voting for Media, institutionalizes early voting for the media. It allows not just reporters but also technical staff who will be covering the elections to cast their votes ahead of the scheduled election day.
However, under the law, members of the media can only vote for the positions of president, vice president, senators and party-list representatives.
“Let’s take advantage of the new law so you can exercise your right to vote,” Valte said.
April voting
Even before Aquino signed the bill into a law, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) already scheduled early voting for the media in the May elections.
Members of the media can vote from April 28 to 30 from 8 am to 5 pm, according to Comelec Resolution No. 9637, provided that applications for absentee voting have been filed by March 31.
RA 10380 will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. – with reports from Angela Casauay/Rappler.com
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