Senate ratifies bill on absentee voting for media

The Senate has ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the measure allowing members of the media to vote even in places where they are not registered on Election Day.

 

On Tuesday, the Senate approved without opposition the bicameral conference committee report on the reconciled version of Senate Bill 1198 and House Bill 4241, which was approved last December.

 

According to the bill, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) shall extend the right to vote under the local absentee voting system to members of media and media practitioners, including the technical and support staff, who are duly registered voters and who are on duty on the day of the elections.

 

However, they shall only be allowed to vote for the positions of president, vice president, senators, and party-list representatives.

 

Already covered by local absentee voting are government officials and employees as well as members of the military and police force who will be on duty in places where they are not registered on election day. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News