Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) Here is a guide on what to do before

and on election day (Monday, May 9) based on the Commission on Elections'

general instructions as stated in Resolution No. 10088.

Make sure your ballot is clean of any marks.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE ELECTION DAY

Undervoting and abstaining is allowed; overvoting is not. If you overvote, the

vote will not be counted. Shade the entire oval corresponding to your
candidate of choice. Cover your ballot using the ballot secrecy folder; even
the poll watchers and BEI cannot look at your ballot. Do not make any other
marks on the ballot.

- Be an educated voter: Study the platforms and achievements of the

candidates running for national and local posts.
- Make a list of who you will vote for. For the national posts, you can only vote
for one president, one vice president, 12 senators, and one party list. Don't
forget to bring your list on May 9. However, you cannot bring campaign
materials in the precinct on election day.
- Be reminded that there is a liquor ban on May 8 (Sunday) and on election
day (May 9).

Step 5: Vote wisely

Step 6: Feed your ballot into the vote-counting machine

The machine has a green check button that casts your vote and a red "X"
button that returns your ballot. If you don't press either in one second, the
machine automatically casts your ballot and prints a receipt.
Step 7: Return the ballot secrecy folder and marker

HOW TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY IN 12 EASY STEPS

Step 1: Go to your assigned polling precinct from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on
May 9
The Commission on Election (Comelec) advises voters to come early and not
wait until the last minute. Look for your name in the voters list posted near the
precinct. The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) voters
assistance desk in the polling place can also help you look for your precinct,
sequence, and room number.
Step 2: Fall in line in the holding area
Step 3: Give your name, valid I.D., and precinct number to the Board of
Election Inspectors (BEIs)
Step 4: Get your ballot, ballot secrecy folder, marker, and go to the
voting area

Step 8: Wait for your receipt to print and let the precinct supervisor cut
your receipt from the machine
Do not tear or pull the voter's receipt because it can cause the entire roll of
thermal paper to be yanked, which may cause the vote-counting machines
(VCMs) to temporarily shut down. The BEI will cut the receipt using a scissor.
Step 9: Have your right forefinger marked with indelible ink
Step 10: Take your voter's receipt and verify your vote
Step 11: Drop the receipt in the receptacle beside the VCM provided by
Comelec
Step 12: Leave the polling precinct

Things to remember:
- Do not take photos and videos inside the polling place, or take photos of
your ballot, the VCM screen, and your receipt it is an election offense.
Save the selfies until you're outside the polling place.
- Use the marker provided in the precinct to shade your vote
- Don't bring the receipt out of the polling place. It has to be dropped in a
receptacle beside the VCM.
- Do not bring home the marker or ballot secrecy folder. Return it to the BEIs.
- Do not make any marks on the ballot aside from the shadings for the
candidates or else the machine will reject your ballot and you will not be given
another chance to cast your vote.
- If the VCM rejects your ballot through no fault of your own after four tries,
you can ask for a new ballot.
What to do in case of receipt discrepancies
Rumors circulated on social media showing that voter's receipts of overseas
absentee voters allegedly reveal discrepancies in how vote-counting
machines interpret ballots.
As a voter, here's what you can do if a name of a candidate/s you did not vote
for shows up in your voter's receipt.
Comelec said the voter has to approach the BEI and affix a signature at the
back of the voter's receipt. The BEI will then record the incident in an official
logbook. The receipt will not be dropped in the receptacle, but attached in the
logbook.

Comelec said there is no way to verify on the spot if the mistake was made
by the voter, the BEI, or the VCM. The voter will not get another ballot.
Be reminded that it is an election offense to make "frivolous objections" using
the receipt.