PHILIPPINE

GOVERNMENT
AND
CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE
V:
SUFFRAG

ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE

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.

ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE

Suffrage
Suffrage is the right and
obligation to vote of qualified
citizens in the election of
certain national and local
officers of the government
and in the decision of public
questions submitted to the
people

ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE

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.

ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE

Scope of suffrage
1. Election means by which people choose
their officials for definite and fixed
periods and to whom they entrust, for the
time being as their representatives, the
exercise of powers of government.

ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE

Scope of suffrage
2. Plebiscite the vote of the people expressing
their choice for or against a proposed law or
enactment submitted to them.
Example : November 25, 2009 plebiscite to ratify
the conversion of the municipality of
Dasmarias province of Cavite into a
component city.

ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE

Scope of suffrage
3. 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)

ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE

Scope of suffrage
4. Initiative the process whereby the people directly
propose and enact laws.
5. 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

ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE

Qualifications of Voters
1.
2.
3.
4.

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.

ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE

Age qualification
1. Minimum Age
2. Basis
3. No maximum age limit

ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE

Residence qualification
1. Period of residence
2. Importance

ARTICLE V: 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.

ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE

Section 2
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.

ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE

System of securing the secrecy and

santity of the ballot
1. Untrammeled exercise of the right to vote
It is essential then to insure that the
voters shall exercise their right freely,
uninfluenced by threats, intimidation or
corrupt motives and to secure a fair and
honest count of the ballots.

ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE

System of securing the secrecy and

santity of the ballot
2. Voting by the disabled and illiterates.
It is the responsibility of the legislative
body to enact procedures that ensures
practice of people with disability and
illiteracy of their right of suffrage.

ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE

System for absentee voting by

qualified Filipinos abroad
the right to suffrage extends even to
Filipinos abroad provided that they possess
all the qualifications mentioned therein and
none of the disqualifications provided by
law. It is the duty of the Congress to provide
for a system of absentee voting by qualified
Filipinos abroad.