Registry of voters.
Section 17
SEC. 17. Registry of voters.—The board of inspectors for each election precinct in which an election is to be held shall hold four meetings for the registry of voters at the place designated therefor or striking names therefrom in accordance with the orders of the constituted authorities, as hereinafter provided, and to number and complete the list. Each meeting except the last shall begin at seven o'clock in the morning and continue until seven o'clock in the evening with not more than one intermission of one hour and half. The inspectors of each election precinct shall prepare at such meeting a list of ihc names and residences of the persons qualified tu vote in such precinct at such election who present themselves for registration, which, when finally completed, shall be the register of the voters ni: the precinct for such election. Such lists shall be arranged in columns. In the first column there shall be entered, at the time of the completion of the registry, a number, opposite the name of each person registered, beginning with one and continuing in consecutive order to the end of the list. In the second column shall be placed the surname used generally by such persons in alphabetical order; in the third column the respective Christian names of such persons: in the fourth column the respective numbers of the cedullas of such persons, for the calendar year in which the election is held : in the fifth column the respective residences of such person by street and numher or, if there be none, by a brief description of the locality thereof. At each meeting, except the last, a space shall be left after each set of surnames beginning with the sune letter sufficient for the addition thereto at subsequent meetings of surnames beginning with the same letter. Before any such names are added at any such subsequent meeting there shall be written "added at the second meeting." "added at third meeting" or "added at fourth meeting," as the case may be. Before any name is placed upon the list the applicant for registration must first exhibit to the inspectors his cedula for the calendar year in which the election is held or. should he be exempt from having one hv reason of age. such fact shall be noted in the fourth column of the list. The following oath shall also be administered to and subscribed by each applicant before entering his name itpon the list: PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, Municipality of ............................... ELECTOR S OATH. I..................................................................................., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am a male resident of the municipality of ......................................... in the Province of......................................, residing at................................. and on the date of the forthcoming election I will be.................................... years of age, and should I present, myself to vote I will have resided in said municipality continuously for the period of six months immediately preceding the said election : that I am not a citizen or subject of any foreign power: that I have read (or heard read) sections thirteen and fourteen of the election law, and that I have the qualifications of a voter and none of the disqualifications, prescribed in said sections; that I am not delinquent in the payment of any public taxes assessed against or due from me since August thirteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, in any part of the Philippine Islands; furthermore, that I recognize and accept the supreme authority of the United States of America in the Philippine Islands, and that I will maintain true faith and allegiance thereto; that I will obey the lavis, legal orders, and decrees duly promulgated by its authority; and that I impose upon myself this obligation voluntary and with out mental reservation or purpose of evasion. So help me God. (In case of affirmation, the words "So help me God" should be stricken out.) ...................................... (Signature of elector.) Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me this................ day of ................................. 190.... ............................................................................ (Inspector of election, ............election precinct, municipality of ............) Such oath may be administered by any one of the inspectors, but only at a meeting and in presence of the board. Upon completion of the lists by the board of inspectors all such oaths so taken shall be filed with the municipal secretary who shall retain them until the completion of the registry lists and filing of the oath for the next general election. At the close of each meeting for the registry of voters the inspectors shall append to each of the lists their certificate that the list as it then appears is a true and correct list of the names and residences in such precinct of all persons who have personally appeared before the board and who have requested that their names be placed thereon and who are qualified at the forthcoming election. One copy of such list, so certified, shall he deposited temporarily in the office of the municipal secretary on the Monday following the second and fourth meetings to lie open io the inspection of the public until the next meeting, or until election day as the case may be, and the other copies shall lie retained by the inspectors who shall permit their inspection by qualified voters of the precinct from eight o'clock in the morning to five o'clock in the afternoon on .all days except Sundays and legal holidavs. Any person who applies for registration, or who is registered, may, at any of the first four meeting of the board, be challenged by any inspector or anv qualified elector of the precinct; the board shall thereupon examine him and take such other evidence as shall to it seem necessary with respect, to his qualifications and disqualifications and shall at the conclusion of such examination order his name to be placed upon the list, or stricken therefrom, as the facts warrant. The hoard of inspectors shall have the same powers to subpoena witnesses and compel their attendance and testimony as is now possessed by justices of the peace under the Code of Civil Procedure, but the fees of such witnesses and for service of process shall be paid in advance by the party in whose behalf they are subpoenaed. All such questions shall be heard and decided without delay. At the determination of the question the board shall, if requested, issue to either party a brief certificate and statement of , its action in the matter and of the evidence upon which such action is based. Either party thereto, or any person who has been refused registration, may thereupon apply to the provincial board of the province or to the judge of the Court of First Instance in the judicial district or any contiguous district, if anv such judge is more accessible than the judge in the district, which board or judge is hereby given jurisdiction in the premises, for an order directing said board of inspectors to lake the action deemed proper. Such application shall be made by filing with said provincial board, or with said judge, a copy of the certificate and statement aforesaid and of proof of service of a notice of such application upon a member of the board of inspectors, which notice shall slate the time and place and tribunal to which such application will be made. The tribunal with which such notice is first filed shall have exclusive jurisdiction in determining the matter. Such application may be accompanied bv affidavits in support thereof; but copies of all such affidavits shall be served upon the hoard of inspectors or partv in interest with the notice of application and may be rebutted bv affidavits to he filed by the board of inspectors or the opposing party. Upon such applications ihe board of inspectors may he represented bv the provincial fiscal, or it may delegate one of its members to appear upon the bearing, and in that case the necessary traveling expenses of such member, not to exceed the amount allowed the provincial officials in that province, shall be paid by the municipalitv. During the absence of such inspector the poll clerk shall sit with the board for ihe purpose of preparing the list of the absent inspector. At the meeting of the board on the Saturday preceding election it shall he the duty of each inspector to make in the registry list opposite the name of each person added or stricken off the list a note of the date of the order and of the name of the tribunal which issued it. No name shall be added to or stricken from the list at the last meeting except in pursuance of such orders. No person shall vote at any general or special election held under the provisions of this Act unless his name appears upon the voters as completed by the board of inspectors.