Article 5:
Su f f r a g e !
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.
• It is not all absolute needless to say that it is an enjoyment of all other
rights.
Nature of suffrage
A mere privilege- suffrage is not a natural right of the citizens but merely a privilege
• A political right-, enabling every citizen to participate in the process of government
to assure that it derives its powers from the consent of the governed (see Art. II
sec.1)
3. Plebiscite- to a vote of the people expressing their choice for or against a propose
law or enactment submitted to them
4. Referendum- the submission of a law or part thereof passed by the nation or local
legislative body to the voting citizens of a country for their ratification
5. Initiative- the process whereby the people directly propose and enact laws.
6. Recall- tenure method by which a public officer may be removed from officer may
be removed from office during his tenure of before the expiration of his term
Mere privilege
- suffrage is not a natural right of the citizens but a privilege to be given or withheld
by the lawmaking power subject to constitutional limitations.
- It is granted to individuals only upon the fulfillment of certain minimum
conditions deemed essential for the welfare of the country
• Political Right
- it is classified as political right, enabling every citizen to participate in the process
of government to assure that its powers from the consent of the governed. The
principle is that of one man, one vote.
Qualifications of Voters:
1. A citizen of the Philippines both male and female
2. Not otherwise disqualified by law
3. At least 18 yrs. of age
4. Have resided in the Philippines for at least one year (1) and in the place wherein
he proposes to vote for at least 6 months preceding the election
Residence Qualification
1. A voter must have been a permanent resident of the Philippines for at least one
(1 year) preceding the election.
2. 6 months residence in a province, city or municipality is considered the minimum
length of time within which a person can adequately familiarize himself with the
needs and conditions and the personalities of the locality.
What is an election?
It is the selection of candidates to public office by popular vote.
Q: What are the types of Election?
1. Regular- refers to an election participated by those who possess the right of
suffrage not disqualified by law and who are registered voters.
2. Special- one held to fill in the vacancy in office before the expiration of the term
for which incumbent was elected.
Cope 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.
2. Plébiscite - the vote of the people expressing their choice for or against a
proposed law or enactment submitted to them.
3. Referendum - It is the submission of the a law or part there of passed by the
national or local legislative body to the voting citizens of a country for their
ratification or approval.
Cope 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
Republic Act 8189 “Voters Registration Act of
1996”
• a citizen in order to be qualified to exercise his right to vote, in
addition to the minimum requirements set by fundamental charter is
obliget by law to register.
A while of legal age and of sound is illiterate. He has asked your
advice on how he can vote in the coming election for his brother is
running for mayor. This will be the first time "A" will vote and he
has neyer registered as a voter before. What advice will you give
him on the procedure he needs to follow in order to be able to vote?
The Constitution provides that until Congress shall have provided
otherwise, illiterate and disabled voters shall be allowed to vote
under existing laws and regulations Article 5 Sec. 2. It is necessary
for any qualified voter to register in order to vote. In the case of
illiterate and disabled voters, their voters affidavit may be prepared
by any relative within the 4 civil degree of consanguinity or affinity
or any board of election inspectors who shall prepare the affidavit in
accordance with the data supplied by the applicant
What is absentee voting?
a processed by which qualified citizens of the State of the
Philippines abroad exercise their right to vote in pursuant to the
constitutional mandate that Congress shall provide a system for
absentee voting for qualified Filipinos abroad (OFW)
Age Qualification.
• There must be some minimum age for voting. No one, no matter how
ardent his belief in democracy, has ever contended that human being must be
permitted to participate in the section of public officials from the day The
suffrage qualification is based one eassumption that under a frain age, human
beings do not have the maturity, experience, education, and sense of
judgment that will enable them to vote with any reasonable degree of
intelligence.
• No general agreement exists as to the exact age which the individual
supposedly attains the maturity sufficient for political participation. While
there minimum voting age in every State, no country, however, has as yet
seen fit to set a minimum age limit.
Residence Qualification
A voter must have been a permanent resident of the Philippines for at list
one (1) year preceding the election.
Six (6) months residence in a province, city or municipality 1s considered
the minimum length of time within which a person can adequately
familiarize himself with the needs and conditions and the personalities of
locality.
Giving him a right to vote before period it is contended, will return in
unpurposive and mechanical voting. The requirement as to residence is
desirable in order that registration list may be prepared and check in
ample time to prevent fraud.
Persons Disqualified to Vote
The responsibilities of determining who may be "disqualified by law" and, therefore, may be
precluded for exercising the right suffrage, is left by the constitution to congress. As to who
are disqualified to vote, the law enumerates them as follow:
1. Any person who has been sentenced by final judgment to suffer imprisonment
for not less than one (1) year, such disability not having been removed by plenary
pardon or grated amnesty. But such person shall automatically reacquire the right
to vote upon expiration of five (5) years after service of sentence;
Persons Disqualified to Vote
2. Any person who has been adjudged by final judgment by final judgement by
competent court or tribunal of having committed any crime involving disloyalty
to the duty constituted government such as rebellion, sedition, violation of the anti-
subversion and firearms laws, or any crime against national security, unless
restored to his full civil and political rights in accordance with laws. Such person
shall likewise automatically regain his right to vote upon expiration of five (5)
years of sentence; and
3. Insane or incompetent persons as declares by competent authority. The above
persons are not qualified to vote even if they have the necessary qualification.
Thank you
