Nature of Elections and Political Parties in the Philippines
Article V-Suffrage Section 1 states that:
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.
Meaning of suffrage:
Suffrage is the right and obligation to vote for 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.
Nature of Suffrage
(1) A mere privilege - Suffrage is not a natural right of the citizens but merely a privilege to be
given or withheld by the law-making power subject to constitutional limitations.
(2) A political right - Suffrage enables every citizen to participate in the process of government to assure that it
can truly be said to derive its powers from the constitutional limitations. consent of the governed. The principle is that
of one man, one vote.
Scope of Suffrage Suffrage includes:
1. Election - It is the means by which the 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. Plebiscite - It is the name given to a vote of the people expressing their choice for or against a proposed law or
enactment submitted to them. In the Philippines., the term is applied to an election at which any proposed amendment
to, or revision of, the Constitution is submitted to the people for their ratification. Plebiscite is likewise required by the
Constitution to secure the approval of the people directly affected before certain proposed changes affecting
local government units may be implemented.
3. Referendum - It is the submission of a law or part thereof passed by the national or local legislative body to the
voting citizens of a country for their ratification or rejection.
4. Initiative- It is the process whereby the people directly propose and enact laws.
5. Recall - It is a 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 the
qualified voters.
Qualifications of voters He must be:
1. A citizen (male or female) of the Philippines;
2. Not otherwise disqualified by law;
3. At least eighteen (18) years of age; and
4. Have resided in the Philippines for at least one (1) year and in the place wherein he proposes to vote
for at least six (6) months preceding the election. It is also stated in the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the
Philippines Article IX-C the establishment of Commission on Elections (COMELEC.
In Section 2 discusses the powers and functions of
COMELEC:
(1) Enforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of an election, plebiscite, initiative,
referendum, and recall.
(2) Exercise exclusive original jurisdiction over all contests relating to the elections, returns, and qualifications of
all elective regional, provincial, and city officials, and appellate jurisdiction over all contests involving elective municipal
officials decided by trial courts of general jurisdiction, or involving elective barangay officials decided by trial courts of
limited jurisdiction. Decisions, final orders, or rulings of the Commission on election contests involving elective municipal
and barangay offices shall be final, executory, and not appealable.
