National Service Training Service
Civic Welfare Training Service
Cebu City
Date: 03 February 2024
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The topic aims to raise the level of awareness of the
electorate especially the disadvantaged sectors
towards a responsible, democratic, and sustained
participation in electoral and governance processes.
At the end of this topic, the students as citizen-voters should
be able to:
1. acquaint with the basic concepts of democracy and
the role of elections in democracy and governance;
2. stress the importance of one’s vote;
At the end of this topic, the students as citizen-voters should
be able to:
3. encourage other voters to participate in the whole
electoral and governance process;
4. eventually effect informed political choices among
the citizen voters.
human right to vote, and for the Philippines is
indicated in three documents:
1) Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR);
2) International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights
3) Philippine Constitution
all call for universality of the right;
equality in access to public service;
secrecy of votes
right is exercised during elections,
as a CITIZEN-VOTER:
1) YOU are entitled to free and informed choice
on whom to vote
2) Every political choice and decision you make
will determine the kind of government that will
serve the country.
Constitution – guarantees we are a sovereign
people, where all government authority comes
from.
Sovereignty – “power to govern” is exercised
directly through public officials elected by people
and will of the people.
It is best expressed in clean, orderly and honest
elections.
What is Election ?
Election is the means by which
the people choose their officials
for definite and fixed periods.
What are the different types of electoral
exercises ?
Regular elections Special elections
• National • Plebiscite
• Local • Referendum
• Barangay • Initiative
• ARMM • Recall
• Sangguniang Kabataan
(SK)
How often are elections held ?
A. Every 2nd Monday of May for national and local
elections
a. President and Vice-President: every 6 years
b. Senators, Congressmen, Provincial, City and
municipal officials: every 3 years
B. Every last Monday of October, every 3 years for
barangay and SK officials
C. Every 3 years from March 1993 – ARMM elections
FYI May 12, 2025 is the schedule for 2025
National and Local Elections
Citizens of the Philippines
18 years old and above on the day of the
elections
resident of the Philippines for one year and in the
city or municipality wherein he/she proposes to
vote at least six months before the election
Those not disqualified by law
What is registration?
Registration refers to the act of
accomplishing and filing of a sworn
application for registration by a qualified
voter.
What is validation of registration?
a process wherein fingerprints of the voter
would be captured electronically at no
expense to the voter.
Where should I register?
- COMELEC Office
How do I go about transferring
my registration ?
You may apply with the Election officer of
new residence for the transfer of your
registration records.
You will be asked to accomplish 6
application forms.
“The Philippines is a republican and democratic
state. Sovereignty resides in the people and all
government authority emanates from them.”
We elect our officials directly
Officials serve for fixed terms
Officials are directly accountable
to the people
Absentee Voters
Absentee voters are divided into two types:
• Local Absentee Voters – people who are working
during election day (soldiers, policemen,
government employees and the like)
• Overseas Absentee Voters – Filipinos residing or
working abroad
Note: They are eligible to vote for national positions
only (president, vice-president, senators and party-
list representatives)
Filipino citizens abroad
18 years old and above on the day of the
elections
Immigrants with affidavit of intent to resume
residence in the Philippines
Permanent residents with affidavits of intent to
resume residence in the Philippines
Person sentenced to be imprisoned for not less
than one year
Person found to have committed rebellion,
sedition, violation of the anti-subversion and
firearms laws, or any crime against national
security or involving disloyalty to the government
Insane or incompetent person
Congressmen/ Congresswomen
Informational or the power to
convene inquiries in aid of
legislation
Executive Branch
Implements programs & projects
Monitors programs & projects
Action-oriented
Provides basic services
Performs ceremonial functions
Executive Positions
President
National
Vice President
Governor
Mayor Local
Brgy. Captain
Legislative
Reviews & evaluates proposals, position
papers
Conducts research on proposed bills &
position papers Analyst
Consults experts
Defends & analyzes proposed bills
Legislative Positions
Senator National
Congressman
Board Member
Vice Governor
Local
Vice Mayor
City/Municipal Councilors
Brgy. Councilors
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS - the President can either
approve or veto a law passed by Congress. It
would require two-thirds (2/3) vote by the
legislative body to finally pass the vetoed version
into law.
LOCAL LEVEL - Chief executives can also veto
any ordinance on the ground that it is prejudicial
to the public. In turn, the Sanggunian or the local
legislative body can override the veto, also two-
thirds (2/3) vote of the whole Sanggunian
Bribery, intimidation, and various forms of
cheating, particularly:
1) Registering in several names and/or several
precincts;
2) Vote-buying / vote-selling / paid not to vote;
3) Flying voters;
4) Voting in the name of other persons / dead
persons or relatives;
5) Threat to supporters, voters and members of
election inspectors…
Bribery, intimidation, and various forms of
cheating, particularly:
6) Ballot-switching and ballot box-snatching
7) Marking ballot and other election documents to
make it invalid;
8) Dagdag-bawas during counting and canvassing
What qualities should I look for?
R - Righteous Governance
I - Integrity
G - Giftedness
H - Heart
T - Track Record
What qualities should I look for?
R - Righteous Governance
How does your candidate decide on issues? How does he
lead his family, constituents? Does he/she make decisions
that promote justice, righteousness and peace for all law-
abiding Filipinos? Or does he/she decide based on what is
convenient for him/her. Does he/she use his influence as a
platform for governing with prudence and foresight for the
good of many? A candidate who governs righteously does
not accept or offer bribes, and leads an example of
eradicating graft and corruption within his area of influence.
What qualities should I look for?
I - Integrity
A person on integrity is not a perfect individual; rather, he or
she is someone who desires to be accountable to those he
leads. His/ Her walk should match his talk, and his public
image must not be a result of a clever media makeover, but
should be based on a solid character of trustworthiness. If
and when he/she makes wrong decisions, he/she must be
willing to take responsibility for it and not put the blame on
his predecessors, or other people. A candidate with integrity
will also look for positive solutions to problems without
promoting himself/herself.
What qualities should I look for?
G - Giftedness
A candidate for a public office must have the qualifications and
abilities necessary to carry out his/her responsibilities
successfully. A candidate needs more than an impressive
pedigree or diplomas, but must also have the strengths,
personality traits and innate capabilities needed to serve in the
particular office he/she seeks to serve in. Some candidates will
be good as executives but will make for mediocre lawmakers or
legislators, and vice versa. Others will be great managers, but
will not be as effective in drug busting. Still others are visionaries
who can inspire greatness in those they lead, but will fail as
implementers of their dreams. Be careful in voting for a
previously successful public official. Study the new position he or
she is seeking to fill-in.
What qualities should I look for?
H - Heart
How is your candidate’s heart for God, for people and for our
nation? Does he/she see himself/herself as answerable not only to
people, but to Someone infinitely higher than him/her?
The heart is the most important characteristic not only of a leader
but also of every single citizen of this country. This is true because
the heart of the problem of this nation is the problem of the heart.
Genuine change should come from the inside out. Yes, all of us are
already tired of lawlessness. Yet, many of us contribute to this
lawlessness. Have you tried J-walking in Colon Street or throwing
your waste to somewhere else? All of us, not only our politicians,
need to be reformed.
What qualities should I look for?
T – Track Record
Look for your candidate’s track record in a previously held
public office, or if he/she is entering politics for the first time,
consider how this candidate has proven himself/herself in
his chosen profession or area of expertise before running for
office. You need to also be informed about your candidate’s
track record in the other points of the aforementioned
guidelines. Do you see a good pattern of righteous
governance, integrity, giftedness and heart? If you do, then
your candidate is one leader you should vote and support
for.
Your vote will mean:
• better services from the executive
• better policies and laws from the legislative
• a brighter future for us, Filipinos
What must we do?
• Pray to ask for guidance of our almighty God
• Go out and register or revalidate your registration
• Encourage your friends to register and to
revalidate their registration
• Help educate your friends to vote RIGHT.
• Vote RIGHT
• Monitor the count
1. A good government is one that engages citizen
participation and is responsive to the needs of
the people.
2. Good leaders are those who uphold
accountability to the people and promote
transparent and people-oriented programs.
3. Good citizen-voters are those who value their
right to suffrage as to keep themselves
informed, involved and vigilant.
1. Vote according to your informed conscience.
2. Protect the integrity of your own vote from any
undue influence.
3. Volunteer in organizations that work for clean
and peaceful elections.
4. Watch out for instances of cheating in the
elections and inform authorities and the rest of
the electorate of such activities.
1. Be vigilant in the counting and canvassing of
votes.
2. Attend consultations and public hearings, and
participate in local special bodies.
3. Legislative advocacy - a process where citizens
talk with the law makers and other implementers in
the government to ensure that the concerns and
welfare of the general public are included in the
discussion and making of laws.
4. The citizen voter can also engage in the political
and electoral process in other ways such as:
A. Making views known to the elected
representatives;
B. Supporting/campaigning for a political party,
candidate or partylist group;
C. Supporting initiatives of civil society
organization to ensure honest and peaceful
elections; and
D. Running for office.
What is the value of your vote?
• equal chance for a vote,
whether rich or poor
• guaranteed opportunity
It is priceless!
to participate
Thank you for listening!!!
