SUFFRAGE
What is Suffrage?
Right to vote and to be voted.
• The human right to vote is embodied in three (3) documents:
Article 21 (Sec.1 to 3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (December 10,
1946).
Article 25 (Sec.A to C) of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights
(March 1976).
Article 5 (Sec. 1 and 2) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
Article 21 (Sec.1 to 3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (December 10,
1946)
• Section 1 – Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country,
directly or through freely chosen representatives.
• Section 2 – Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country.
• Section 3 – the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of the
government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections
Article 25 (Sec. A to C) of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (March
1976)
• Every citizen shall have the right and opportunity to;
Section A – Take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen
representatives;
Section B – To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections.
Section C – To have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country.
Article 5 (Sec. 1 and 2) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution
Section 1 – Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise
disqualified by law.
Section 2 – The Congress shall provide a system for securing the secrecy and sanctity of
ballots as well as the system for absentee voting by qualified Filipino abroad. The
Congress shall also design procedure for the disabled and the illiterates to vote without
the assistance of other persons.
• The Election Process
What is Election? The Public choice of person for office,
specially a politician.
What is Voter’s? A person with a right to vote.
Who are qualified to vote?
All citizens of the Philippines of 18 years old and above.
Resident of the Philippines for one (1) year and in the city or
municipality wherein he proposes to vote for at least six(6)
months immediately preceding the election.
A registered voter’s
Who are disqualified to vote?
Any person who has been sentenced by final judgment to
suffer imprisonment for not less than one (1) year.
• Insane or incompetent person as declared by competent
authority.
How to Register?
The qualified voters’ accomplishes and filed a sworn application for
registration before the election officer of the city or municipality wherein he
resides.
The overseas absentee voting: personal registration either with the board
of Election Inspector on their place of residence or with the representative of the
Commission in the Philippine embassies consulate and other foreign service
established in their temporary residence overseas.
Modernized Election Process (RA 8436 or The Election Automation Law)
The system of election using appropriate technology for voting, electronic
devices to count votes and canvass, consolidate result and transmission of
election results.
• The law provides for the following features of automated system:
Use of appropriate ballots;
Stand-alone machine which will count and consolidate election results;
Provision for audit trails;
Minimum human intervention; and
Adequate safeguard and security measures
Comelec
• Pursuant to Article 1X ,the chairman and the commissioner shall be appointed by the
Pres with the consent of the commission on appointment for terms of 7 years without
reappointment, of those first members appointed, 3 shall hold office for 7 years, 2
members for 5 years and last for 3 years without re appointment.
• Appointment to any vacancy shall be only for the unexpired term of the predecessor.
Term of office
• President and Vice president – 6 years
• No Vice president shall serve for more than 2 successive terms
• The elections for senators, members of the house of representatives and local gov’t
officials happen very 3 years
Qualifications
President:
• A natural born citizen of the Philippines
• A registered voter
• Able to read and write
• At least 40 years old on the date of election
• A resident of the Phil for at least 10 years immediately preceding the election
Senator:
• A natural born citizen of the Philippines
• At least 35 years of age on the date of election
• Able to read and write
• A registered voter
• A resident of the Phil for not less than 2 years immediately
preceding the day of the election
Member of the House of representative:
• A natural born citizen of the Phil
• At least 25 years old on the day of election
• Able to read and write
• A registered voter in the district in which he shall be elected,
except party list representative
• A resident of the district for a period of no less than 1 year
preceding the date of the election
• Party list representative:
• A natural born citizen of the Phil
• A registered voter
• A resident of the Phil for a period of not less than 1 year immediately preceding the
election day
• Able to read and write
• A bonafide member of the party he seeks to represent for at least 90 days preceding
the election day
• A nominee shall come from the disadvantage group of citizens which are organized
and duly registered to the COMELEC
• At least 25 years of age on the election day
Registration of voters
• Preliminary to voting exercise
• Qualified voter accomplishes and files a sworn application for registration
• Included in the book of registered voters
• Mandated by RA 8189 –the Continuing voter’s registration act of 1996
• RA 9189 – Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003
• - aims to extend the right of suffrage to all citizens of the Phil abroad
• Election day
• Voters proceed to casting of votes which is conducted by the board of election
inspectors (BEI)
The Voter’s Behavior
• Top Four (4) factors on what determines the vote of the Filipino electorate:
1. Candidate’s public servant image;
2. Political machinery;
3. Candidate’s popularity; and
4. Endorsement of traditional network and organizations which include:
The family, The church, The leaders, Formal groups, Associations.
Factors contributed to the complexity of election practices in the Philippines:
Common elements of patronage culture (“utang na loob”);
Supports of candidate seems as an investment;
Performance of candidates become less relevant;
Media exposure;
Traditional 3G’s (Guns, Goons and Golds) elements continue;
Massive election fraud and violence. Cheating; Flying voter’s; Vote
buying; and etc.
Challenges to Government, Leaders and Voter’s
• Reform in the system;
• Reform attitude;
• Genuine participation of the grassroots; and
• Citizen’s political maturity.
Action Point for Citizen-Voter in the Exercise of the Right of Suffrage
Pre-election
• Register during the period allotted;
• Be informed of the issue, platform and personality of the candidate;
• Set specific guidelines for choosing leaders in terms of:
a) Social affiliation
b) Interest
c) Lifestyle
d) Performance record
• Participate in public debate or rallies.
Action Point for Citizen-Voter in the Exercise of the Right of Suffrage
During Election
• Vote according to your conscience;
• Practice vigilance in protecting your vote;
• Volunteer in organization that work for HOPE (Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Election)
a) PPCRV (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting)
b) NAMFREL (National Movement for Free Election)
c) LENTE (Legal Network for Truthful Election)
Action Point for Citizen-Voter in the Exercise of the Right of Suffrage
Post Election
• Vigilance in the counting and canvassing of votes;
• Participate in local government through development planning in the barangay; and
• Observe the performance of your leader.
• Others
• Running for office;
Support campaign for political reforms; and
Supporting initiatives of civil society
VOTER’S AWARENESS
• SUFFRAGE
- right to cast a vote in public election and right to be voted in public office
- not only limited to elections covering both national and local offices
Types of suffrage:
1. Plebiscite - applied to an election at which any proposed amendment to,
or revision of, the Constitution is submitted to the people for ratification
2. Elections - the electorate chooses the leaders in whom they entrust the
functions and powers of the government for a fixed period of time
3. Initiatives - Process by which electorate directly proposes or passes
needed laws or programs without going thru the hassles of legislative
department
4. Referendum - refers to when a question or law or part of it is submitted
to the electoral body for its approval or rejection
5. Recall - process of removing an incumbent officer from his position
before expiration of his term of office by vote of the people.
Kinds of elections:
1. general elections-elections held simultaneously on the
same day for all national and local offices
2. national elections- elections for national officials like
president, vice president and members of congress
3. local elections- elections for offices in the provinces, cities
and municipalities
4. special elections- determined by congress in the date
different from the regular elections like barangay elections
and SK elections