MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has released the official calendar of activities for the May 13, 2019, national and local elections.

In Comelec Resolution 10429 issued on Monday, October 1, the poll body set the election period from January 13 to June 12, 2019.

Meanwhile, the period for aspirants to file their certificates of candidacy (COC) will be on October 11 to 12 and October 15 to 17, 2018. (It was moved from the October 1 to 5 schedule, upon the request of lawmakers.)

The campaign period for senatorial candidates and party-list groups is scheduled from February 12 to May 11, 2019.

Meanwhile, the campaign period for local bets – for governors down to municipal councilors and for district representatives – is set for March 29 to May 11, 2019.

Campaigning is prohibited on Maundy Thursday (April 18) and Good Friday (April 19). The Comelec resolution, however, wrongly noted that these dates would fall on March 28 and March 29, which would have coincided with the start of the campaign period for local bets.

Election day will be on Monday, May 13, 2019.

Overseas absentee voters can cast their votes from April 13 to May 13, 2019, while local absentee voters may vote from April 29 to May 1, 2019. 

Afterwards, all candidates, parties, and party-list organizations have until June 12, 2019, to submit their Statement of Contributions and Expenses or SOCE to Comelec.

Here are other major dates listed in Comelec Resolution 10429:

• October 18 to November 29, 2018 – Period for substitution of candidates who withdrew, died, or were disqualified by final judgment, so that the substitute’s name can still be printed on the official ballot. (READ: After criticism, Comelec amends rule on substitution of bets)

• November 5, 2018 – Start of posting of the tentative list of candidates, for aspirants to check their names to appear on the official ballot. The list will be posted at the Comelec website and at the offices where COCs were filed.

• November 9, 2018 – Last day for candidates to file a request for correction on the name to appear on the ballot

• November 30, 2018 until midday of election day – Period for substitution of candidates who died or were disqualified by final judgment, as long as the substitute has the same surname as the original bet

• December 5, 2018 – Last day to hold the raffle to determine the order of appearance or listing of party-list groups on the official ballot

• January 13, 2019 – Last day to prepare and update the Certified List of Overseas Voters and furnish copies of it to Philippine embassies, consulates, and other foreign service establishments abroad

• February 12, 2019 – Posting of the certified list of voters

• March 11, 2019 – Last day for qualified voters to apply for local absentee voting

• April 8 to 12, 2019 – Testing and sealing of vote-counting machines (VCM) for overseas absentee voting in selected posts/countries

• April 12, 2019 – Last day to prepare list of qualified local absentee voters

• April 13, 2019 – Last day to furnish every registered voter with a Voter’s Information Sheet

• April 22, 2019 – Last day for concerned offices to post the Project of Precincts and furnish copies of it to national and local candidates

• April 29, 2019 – Last day to prepare a list of Accessible Polling Places for senior citizens and persons with disabilities

• May 6 to 10, 2019 – Testing and sealing of VCMs in polling places in the country

• May 13 to 16, 2019 – Count and canvass precinct results and proclaim winning city/municipal elective officials

• May 17 to 19, 2019 – Canvass results and proclaim winners for senatorial, congressional, party-list, regional, and provincial elections

– Rappler.com