Suffrage

Suffrage

• 1.
  THE 1987 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION ARTICLEV – “SUFFRAGE ”
• 2.
  MEANING OF SUFFRAGE Suffrageis the right and obligation to vote. It is a political right conferred by the Constitution empowering a citizen to participate in the process of government which makes the State truly democratic and republican.
• 3.
  SECTION 1 Suffrage maybe 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.
• 4.
  QUALIFICATION OF VOTERS  Acitizen of the Philippines NOT otherwise disqualified by the law;  At least eighteen 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
• 5.
  SCOPE OF SUFFRAGE ELECTION – means by which people choose their representatives who are entrusted the exercise of the powers of the government  PLEBISCITE – process by which the people either reject or approve an amendment or revision of the Constitution  INITIATIVE – process by which people directly propose and enact laws  REFERENDUM – process by which people ratify or reject a law or part thereof referred or submitted to them by the national or local law-making body  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
• 6.
  SECTION 2 The Congressshall provide a system for securing the secrecy and sanctity of the ballot as well as a system for absentee voting by qualified Filipinos abroad.
• 7.
  ABSENTEE VOTING Absentee Votingrefers to the process by which qualified citizens of the Philippines abroad can exercise their right to vote.
• 8.
  SECTION 2 The Congressshall 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.
• 9.
  IMPORTANCE OF SUFFRAGE The Constitutionmandates the Congress “to provide a system for securing the secrecy and sanctity of the ballot.” The mandate becomes especially important now that the electoral base is broadened to include the illiterates and the disabled who are the usual prey of unscrupulous politicians.
• 10.
  IMPORTANCE OF SUFFRAGE Thus, tosecure the very essence of Philippine democracy and to protect the illiterates and disabled from being disenfranchised, the Constitution also provides that “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.”
• 11.
  IMPORTANCE OF SUFFRAGE It isvery essential then to insure that the voters shall exercise their right freely, ‘uninfluenced by threats, intimidation or corrupt motives,’ to secure a fair and honest count of the ballots.
• 12.
  IMPORTANCE OF SUFFRAGE As afinal note, the importance of suffrage cannot be overemphasized as it is the bedrock of Philippine democracy and republicanism. Removed, then the Philippines is no longer democratic and republican.