THE 1987 PHILIPPINE

CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE IV

SUFFRAGE

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OBJECTIVES:
At the conclusion of the session,
you must have been able to:
Explain the nature of suffrage as a
very important political right;
Discuss the ways/forms by which we
are able to exercise the right of
suffrage;
Appreciate the significance of
suffrage in governance.

ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE
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.

Section 1

SUFFRAGE EXPLAINED
Suffrage is the right and
obligation to vote 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.
Suffrage is a manifestation of
republican democracy.

Commission on
Elections (COMELEC)
The independent
constitutional
body mandated to
supervise
elections and
implement
election laws.
It is composed of a
Chairman and 6

Commission on
Elections (COMELEC)

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NATURE OF SUFFRAGE
A MERE PRIVILEGE
May be given or withheld by the
lawmaking power subject to
constitutional limitations; upon the
fulfillment of certain minimum conditions
deemed essential for the welfare of the
society.

A POLITICAL RIGHT
This right enable every citizen to participate
in the process of government to assure that
it can trulybe said to derive its powers from
the consent ofthe governed.

Scope of Suffrage
ELECTION-The

process by
which the people choose their
representatives to exercise the
powers of government.

PLEBISCITE- the vote of the people expressing

their choice for or against a proposed law or
enactment submitted to them.

REFERENDUM- the act of submission of a law or par

thereof passed by the national or legislative body t
the voting citizens of a country for their ratification
Rejection.
INITIATIVE-the process
whereby the people
directly propose and enact
laws.

RECALL- the method of

removing
a public officer from office
during his tenure or before the

FORMS OF
SUFFRAGE:
For officials to run the affairs of
government:
1. Election
2. For
Recall
issues

for the electorates

consideration:

1.
2.
3.

Plebiscite
Initiative
Referendum

ELECTION
Kinds of Election:
GENERAL ELECTIONS - elections for all national
and local officials held simultaneously on the same
day.
NATIONAL ELECTIONS elections for national
officials namely the President, Vice-President,
members of Congress (Senators and Representatives)
LOCAL ELECTIONS elections for local officials in
the regions, provinces, cities, and municipalities.

ELECTION
Kinds of Election:
SPECIAL ELECTIONS - elections held on a
date different from that of the regular
elections.

When a vacancy occurs in an elective office due to

CAUSES:
the death or the incapacity of the incumbent official.
When the scheduled regular election is postponed
due to typhoons or other emergency.
When the regular elections are cancelled due to
failure of elections.

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Procedural Requirement for

Exercising Suffrage: (Section
A Registered Voter: A person exercising suffrage :
Must be a qualified voter.
Must be a registered voter in accordance with the
requirement of election laws

Registration is not a
qualification but a way to
determine who can vote. It
is a condition before a
qualified voter can exercise

Procedural Requirement for

Exercising Suffrage: (Section
Citizens of the Philippines
Eighteen years old and above.
At least one year residence in the
Philippines and six months in the place
where he intends to vote.
Aliens cannot
Not disqualified by law.

The reckoning
date to
determine age
is the date of
the exercise of

exercise
suffrage.
One who is below 18
but is exactly 18 or
more on the day of
voting may be

PERSONS DISQUALIFIED TO
VOTE
Any person who has been sentenced by final
judgment to suffer imprisonment for not less than
one(1) year.
> Such person will re-acquire the right to vote
upon expiration of five (5) years after service of
sentence.
> When pardon or amnesty contains the
restoration of the right to vote.

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PERSONS DISQUALIFIED TO
VOTE
When a person has been adjudged by final judgment
by competent court or tribunal of having committed
rebellion, sedition, violation of the anti-subversion
and firearms laws, or any crime against national
security, unless restored by law.
Insane or incompetent persons as declared by
competent authority.

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