SUFFRAGE,

ELECTIONS
AND
POLITICAL
PARTIES
 Suffrage is one of the
political rights, enjoyed by
the citizens of the country.
This is because through the
exercise of suffrage
citizens can participate in
the establishments and
administration of
Governments.
Suffrage and
its scope
 Election
 It is the principal means by
which the citizens vote and
select certain official to
represent them in the
administration of the
Government. It may be
national or local.
 Plebiscite
 It is the type of election
wherein the people render
decision to accept or
reject certain amendments
to the Contitutions( Article
XII Sec.2)
 Referendum
 It refer to the process
wherein a law or a part of a
law passed by the legislature
or local legislative body is
submitted to the people for
their approval of rejection.
 Initiative
 it is the process
whereby the people are
given the opportunity to
directly propose or
enact laws.
who may exercise suffrage?
At least 18 years of age
 Not disqualified by law
 A resident of country at least on
year
 a resident of the place where
they intend to vote for at least 6
months, immediately preceding
the election.
In the country, it is
congress determine
who are disqualified to
vote, the following are
prohibited for
exercising suffrage;
Any person who has sentenced for a
prison term of not less than one year,
except after 5 years from completion
of his sentence;
Any person who has been found guilty
of committing a crime involving
disloyalty to the State( rebellion and
reason); except after 5 years for
completion of his sentence;
Any person to be not in normal
mental condition.
 Kind of
Elections
 General Elections are those
held for the purpose of
electing national and local
officials simultaneously.
Started in the country by
virtue of R.A No. 7166.
 National Elections are those conducted to
elect the President, Vice President and member
of Congress.
 Local Elections are held for the purpose of
selecting officials in the region, provinces,
cities and municipalities.
 Special Election are those held on date
different from regular election. When a
vacancy occurs in an elective office due to
death or incapacity of incumbent officials;
when the scheduled regular election is differed
due to typhoon or other emergency; and when
the regular election s are cancelled due to
terrorism fraud and massive vote buying.
 Special Elections occur when:
When a vacancy occurs in an
elective office due to death or
incapacity of incumbent officials
when the scheduled regular election
is differed due to typhoon or other
emergency
when the regular elections are
cancelled due to terrorism, fraud and
massive vote buying.
Absentee Voting R.A No.
9189 (Overseas Absentee Voting
act of 2003). This law provides
that overseas Filipinos may vote
for President, V-President,
Senators and party-list
representatives only.
Rules Governing Elections in
the Country
The Commission on
Elections (COMELEC) guided
by the rules governing
elections as stated in the
provisions of R.A No. 7166.
 ELECTION AND CAMPAIGN
PERIOD
Campaign period for the President,
Vice President and Senators is 90
day before the day of election
 45 days before the day of election
for the members of the House of
representatives and elective
provincial, and municipal officials.
Filling of Certificate of Candidacy
The certificate of Candidacy of an
individual running for national
elections is required to file at the
main office of the COMMELEC not
later than the day prior to the
beginning of the campaign period.
Precincts and Polling Places
Every Barangay is required
to have at least one election
precinct, with each precinct
having not more than 300
voters.
Registrations of Voters
The registrations of Voters is
held on the 15th Saturday
prior to the day of Election
those who are reach 18 years
old on or before the day odf
election.
Common Poster area
The COMELEC is
empowered to designate
common poster areas in the
Barangay where candidates
can post their election
propaganda announcing their
candidacy.
 Prohibited forms of Propaganda
1. Printing, publishing or distributing any
poster or printed matter urging voters to
vote for or against( any candidate without
bearing the name of the printer and payer.
2. Erecting or putting up of any form or kind
of advertising for or against any candidate
or political party
3. Displaying or showing publicly any
advertisement for or against any candidates
by means or cinematography and free airing
on radio of television for campaign and other
political purposes except those authorized
by COMELEC.
 OFFICIAL WATCHERS
 Every political party or
candidate is entitled to
one watchers in every
polling place and
canvassing center.
BOARD OF ELECTION
INSPECTOR
 It is constituted by a
chairman and two
members who are
permanent public school
teachers.
 BOARD OF CANVASSERS
 Provincial Board of Canvassers
Composed of the provincial election
supervisor or a lawyer in the COMELEC,
regional office as chairman provincial
fiscal as member and the provincial
superintended of school as members.
 City Board of Canvassers
COMELEC lawyer as chairman, the
city fiscal as v-chairman and the city
superintendent of school as member.
 Municipal Board of
Canvassers
COMELEC Representative
as chairman, the municipal
treasurer as vice chairman
and the most senior district
school supervisor as member.
Political Parties
 A political organization that
seeks to attain political
power within a government
usually by participating
political campaigns.
Functions performed by political parties:
1. Draw together people who have similar
political philosophies and ideas.
2. Parties are the chief means by which political
power is exercised in the country.
3. Parties select candidates to contest elections
office for public.
4. In the parliamentary and presidential arena,
political parties provide the government and
opposition.
5. In government and opposition, political
parties provide organizational support.
6. Parties articulate philosophies and develop
policies.
7. Parties are an avenue for a community
groups to influence the decision making.
8. Parties are one of the main avenues for
political debate and discussion in the
community.
9. Parties are ultimately responsible for the
structure of the machinery of government.
Party systems
 Nonpartisan system no official political
parties exist, sometimes reflecting legal
restrictions on political parties.
 Single party system Only one political party
is legally allowed to hold effective power.
 Two-party system there are two political
parties dominant to such extent that electoral
success under the banner of any other party is
extremely difficult.
 Multi party system more than two parties
are serious contenders to participate in ruling.
The Development of the Philippine
Political Parties
 The first Philippine political party
established in 1990 was the federal party
which advocated peace and eventual state
hood. Later the Nationalist party and the
Democratic party was established.
Following Japanese occupation and the
granting of independence an effective two
party system developed between the
Liberal and Nationalist party.
 September 1992 Marcos signed the Anti-
Subversion law signaling a peaceful resolution to
more than 20 years of communist insurgency with
the repeal of the anti-subversion legislation in the
place since 1957.
 September 1986 the revolutionary left
formed a legal political party to contest
congressional elections.
 In the ten year period since 1987, the Philippines
has had what appears to be a multi party system,
but with rather weak parties.
Notable characteristics of Philippine
political parties
 The shifting character of membership and
leadership and the absence of ideological or
programmatic differences between parties which
are linked to the nature of differentiation in the
elite.
 What has kept the Philippine state weaks that no
one class has been strong enough to bend the
state to its will.
The Philippine electoral system
 Has set the institutional frame for the development of
Philippine political parties.
Characteristics of the current electoral system
 The president and V-President are elected nationally
for six year terms with no re-election allowed.
 Local government officials are elected to 3 year terms
with a 3 term limit.
 The system has been “ first past post”, whoever wins
the most number of votes, wins.
 Elections are supervised by the COMELEC.
 Parties are required to register with the COMELEC
with w verified petition.
 Presidential Politics
It is the other major institutional factor shaping
political parties.
The Philippine President appoints a large
number of people in the bureaucracy, over a
hundred thousand positions by some estimates.
The presidents control over government
finances, and disbursement gives him much
power than congress.
Political Parties in the Philippines today.
A. Major Political Parties TEAM unity
(KAMPI,LDP,LAKAS-CMD,NPC,PDSP) GO
(AD,KBL,LP,NP,NPC,PDP-LABAN,PMP,UNO)
Unaffiliated Parties (AKP,KBL,PRP)
B. Minor Political Parties and Party-list Groups
Regional Parties elected through the
constituency system (ONE CEBU,SARRO)
Party list organizations
(Akbayan,Alayon,ABC,AVE,AMIN,AP,ALIF
APEC, BATAS, Buhay,Cibac,Coop NATCCO,
GABRIELA,Butil,PM,SANLAKAS,VFP)
C. Other Parties (BPM,GP,PIBID,PGRP,PP)
D. Former Major Coalitions :
 Koalisyon ng katapatan at karanasan sa kinabukasan.
 Koalisyon ng nagkakaisang Pilipino.
 Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino.
 People Power Coalition.
 Puwersa ng Masa.
 Lakas-Laban Coalition.
 Grand Alliance for Democracy.
 Lakas ng Bayan.