Suffrage

CHAPTER V

SUFFRAGE

• Is the right and obligation to vote of qualified citizen in the

election of certain national or Local offices of the government

and in the decision of public questions submitted to the people

• the right of voting

Nature of suffrage

1. A mere priviledge – not a natural right; granted to

individuals only upon fulfillment of certain minimum

conditions.

2. A political right – classified as a political right; enables

citizen to participate in the process of government.

Section 1

• Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not

otherwise disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of

age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one

year, and in the place wherein they propose to vote, for at least six

months immediately preceding the election. No literacy, property,

or other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise

of suffrage.

Section 2

• The Congress shall provide a system for securing the secrecy and sanctity of the ballot as well as a system for absentee voting by qualified Filipinos abroad.

• The Congress shall also design a procedure for the disabled and the illiterates to vote without the assistance of other persons. Until then, they shall be allowed to vote under existing laws and such rules as the Commission on Elections may promulgate to protect the secrecy of the ballot.

ELECTION

• The means by which the people choose their officials for definite and fixed

periods and to whom they entrust, for the time being as their representatives.

Election Process

Going to your

respective pricint

Finding Your name

in the Voter’s List

Actual Voting

Submitting the Vote in the PcosMachine

Having an Indelible

Ink

Plebiscite

• A vote of the people expressing their choice for or against a proposed law or

exactment submitted to them. An election at which any proposed

amendment to, or revision of the constitution is submitted to the people for

their ratification.

• Example : November 25, 2009 Plebiscite to ratify the conversion of the

municipality of Dasmariñas province of Cavite into a component city.

Referendum

• It is the submission of the a law or part thereof passed

by the national or local legislative body to the voting

citizens of a country for their ratification or approval.

• Example : Philippine Martial Law Referendum (1973)

Initiative

• the process whereby the people directly propose and enact laws.

• Example: The National Citizens Initiative for Democracy

Recall

• Method by which a public officer may be removed from office during his tenure or before the expiration of his term by a vote of the people after registration of a petition signed by a required percentage of voters

• Recall refers to the removal of a public officer by the people before the end of his term of office. It is an incident of the sovereign power of the people and is implied in all governmental operations. It is frequently described as a fundamental right of the people in a representative democracy (Garcia vs. Comelec, 348 SCRA 100). Through recall, the people divest an elective public official of the right to continue holding his office. The subsequent vacancy in the office will then be filled in through a special election on recall.

Qualification of Voters

• A citizen of the Philippines;

• Not otherwise disqualified by law;

• At least 18 years of age; and

• Have resided in the Philippines for at least 1 year and in the place wherein he

proposes to vote for at least 6 months preceding the elections.

AGE QUALIFICATION

• Minimum Age

(for Sk voting 16 years of age – 18 years of Age) 18 years of age

• Basis

the age is set at 18 years

• No maximum age limit

Residence qualification

• Any Filipino citizen who is at least 18 years of age, a resident of the

Philippines for at least one year, and in the place where he intends to vote for

at least six months immediately preceding the election can file application for

registration. There are two types of voter registration: Computerized Voter's

List (CVL) electronic process and the Voters Registration Record (VRR)

manual one.