SUFFRAG E

Article V

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

Suffrage

Right and obligation to vote Major form of participation of a citizen in the political process of the State Essence of Citizenship Is it mandatory?

Suffrage

A mere privilege Not a natural right, not inherent to everyone Privilege given to individuals upon fulfilment of certain conditions

Suffrage

A political right Enables citizen to participate in the process of governance

Forms of Suffrage

Election Means by which people chose their officials Plebiscite Vote of people expressing their choice over a proposed law submitted to them Constitutional Amendment/Approval

Forms of Suffrage

Referendum Ratification of a law passed by the legislative, up for approval of the people Legislation passed by national/local legislative body

Forms of Suffrage

Initiative Process whereby people directly proposes laws for the government to enact Recall Method by which a public official may be removed from office during his tenure, prior to the end of his term

Voting Qualifications

Citizen of the Philippines At least 18 years old

Resident of the Philippines for at least 1 year Resident of the place where one aspires to vote for at least 6 months before election day

Why 18 years old?

Age of maturity To tap on the youth and enable them to be part of nation-building

Legal age to enter contracts

Arguments 18 21 years old

1. It has the effect of broadening the base of democratic participation in the political process. 2. The voting age of 21 years is as old as the Roman Empire; therefore, it is obsolete 3. It is the (alleged) findings of medical science that todays 18-year old is physically at least 3 years ahead of an

Arguments 18 21 years old

4. The communication media explosion has resulted in making 18year old citizens better informed than their parents; 5. The Philippines is becoming an increasingly young country and the youth are more idealistic and are more change- oriented than their elders;

Arguments 18 21 years old

6. The objection that 18- year old citizens lack the maturity to exercise an important political right widely is at best a debatable question; 7. If at the age of 18 one can enter into a marriage contract, which is the most important in the life of a person, there is no reason why an 18year old should not be permitted to vote; 8. If at the age 18 one is mature enough to fight in defense of his country, he is old enough to be given a voice in the determination of its public policy;

Arguments 18 21 years old

9. By including those under 12 but at least 18 to vote will make them feel that they are part of the decision- making process and thereby at least increase their loyalty to our institutions; and

Arguments 18 21 years old

10. Voting is the major if not the sole participation of common citizens in the political process of the State. It is, under present circumstances, the most effective medium for securing consent to or rejection of government short of extra constitutional remedies. The smaller the number of electors in a particular community, the more limited the basis of consent. The reduction of the voting age is consistent with the theory of popular sovereignty which is one of the fundamental

Resident Requirement

Philippine Residency Requirement To make sure the person is a permanent resident of the Philippines

Local Residency Requirement To make sure that the person is knowledgeable and familiar with the set up of the community where he aspires to vote
To prevent vote buying and mechanical voting

Disqualified to Vote

Person sentenced by final judgement to be imprisoned for at least 1 year Parole/ Amnesty Does not reinstate such political right 5 years after service of sentence ERAP

Disqualified to Vote

Persons convicted of a crime involving disloyalty to the government Rebellion, sedition, national security Unless otherwise restored 5 years after service of sentence Insane or incompetent persons

Other substantive requirements prohibited.

Can illiterates vote?

Citizenship is not measured by literacy rate

The ability of the citizen to perform his obligations to the State is not dictated by his ability to read and write

Can illiterates vote?

Most likely, the most knowledgeable citizens are those illiterate, who usually are bystanders, because they knew everything that happens in the society

They are subject to abuse by

Can Property-less (squatters) vote?

Ownership of property does not affect an individuals capacity to function properly as a social and political being

Usually, property-less individuals are the most updated and knowledgeable of their community
They

have a direct knowledge of what is life outside the four corners of a house

Can we impose other restrictions?

Education

Formal schooling is not a guarantee of good citizenship or intellectual voting

Sex/Gender Requirement

By virtue of just being a woman, whos primary responsibility is child-rearing, does not provide that they are not productive citizens

Taxpaying Ability

Property requirement

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.

Secrecy and Sanctity of the Ballot

Congress/ COMELEC cannot pass a law that requires the voter to write his or her name in the ballot
Voters

Registration/ List of Voters Ballot Secrecy Folder Online Voting

May affect their casting of votes

To promote fair, impartial and liberal election

Absentee Voting

To provide Filipino citizen not present in the Philippines to vote during election time
OFW Filipino

soldiers deployed in other nations Foreign dignitaries

They

should be registered
to national elections only

Limited

Part of their privileges as a Filipino citizen

Voting for Disabled

???

Compulsory Suffrage

Are you against or in favor?

SAMPLE BALLOT

PARTY-LIST SYSTEM

Party-list system

A method of electing representatives to the House of Representatives by voting for the party to which they belong. It is defined as a method of voting by proportional representation in contrast to the traditional method of voting through the single member district or constituency.

Party-list system

It is intended by the Constitution to ensure that the voice of the marginalized sectors in society is heard in Congress. In theory, this is ensured by allotting 20 percent of the total number of Congressmen ( the members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives) to representatives coming from marginalized sectoral, regional and national parties, coalitions or organizations

Party-list system

Party-list representatives represent the constituents of the marginalized sectors of society. These marginalized sectors are those belonging to the labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth, and such other sectors identified by law (Republic Act No. 7941, in this case), with the exception of religious groups.

Party-list system

Since there are 206 legislative districts in the Philippines today, twenty percent of this is 51. Thus, the Comelec provides for 51 seats available for the party-list.

Qualifications for Party-list Candidates:

1. Natural born citizen of the Philippines; 2. Registered voter; 3. Resident of the Philippines for a period of not less than one (1) year immediately proceeding the day of the election; 4. Able to read and write;

Qualifications for Party-list Candidates:

5. bona fide member of the party or organization which he seeks to represent for at least ninety (90) days preceding the day of the elections; 6. At least 25 years of age on the day of the election; 7. For the youth sector, he must at least be 25 years of age but not more than 30 years of age on the day of the election.

SAMPLE BALLOT

SAMPLE BALLOT

References

Published
De

Leon H. S, Article V Suffrage . Textbook on the Philippine Constitution. Rex Bookstore, Philippines 1997 Edition.
Thin, Party- List System article retrieved from www.yahoo.com, April 27, 2012, (1423H)

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