Suffrage is the right to vote granted to qualified citizens to participate in elections and decisions made by the government. It is considered a political right, not a natural right, granted upon fulfilling minimum conditions. The constitution provides that suffrage may be exercised by Filipino citizens at least 18 years old who have resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in their voting district for at least six months. Congress must ensure secrecy of ballots and absentee voting for Filipinos abroad, and allow disabled and illiterate voters to cast ballots without assistance.

1. Suffrage
CHAPTER V

2. SUFFRAGE
• Is the right and obligation to vote of qualified citizen in the
election of certain national or Local offices of the government
and in the decision of public questions submitted to the people
• the right of voting

3. Nature of suffrage
1. A mere priviledge – not a natural right; granted to
individuals only upon fulfillment of certain minimum
conditions.
2. A political right – classified as a political right; enables
citizen to participate in the process of government.

4. Section 1
• 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.

5. Section 2
• The Congress shall provide a system for securing
the secrecy and sanctity of the ballot as well as a
system for absentee voting by qualified Filipinos
abroad.
• 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.

6. ELECTION
• 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.

7. Election Process
Going to
your
respective
pricint
Finding
Your name
in the
Voter’s List
Actual
Voting
Submitting
the Vote in
the Pcos
Machine
Having an
Indelible
Ink

8. Plebiscite
• A vote of the people expressing their choice for or against a proposed law or
exactment submitted to them. An election at which any proposed
amendment to, or revision of the constitution is submitted to the people for
their ratification.
• Example : November 25, 2009 Plebiscite to ratify the conversion of the
municipality of Dasmariñas province of Cavite into a component city.

9. Referendum
• It is the submission of the a law or part thereof passed
by the national or local legislative body to the voting
citizens of a country for their ratification or approval.
• Example : Philippine Martial Law Referendum (1973)

10. Initiative
• the process whereby the people directly propose and enact laws.
• Example: The National Citizens Initiative for Democracy

11. 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
• Recall refers to the removal of a public officer by the people before the end of his
term of office. It is an incident of the sovereign power of the people and is implied
in all governmental operations. It is frequently described as a fundamental right of
the people in a representative democracy (Garcia vs. Comelec, 348 SCRA 100).
Through recall, the people divest an elective public official of the right to continue
holding his office. The subsequent vacancy in the office will then be filled in
through a special election on recall.

12. Qualification of Voters
• A citizen of the Philippines;
• Not otherwise disqualified by law;
• At least 18 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.

13. AGE QUALIFICATION
• Minimum Age
 (for Sk voting 16 years of age – 18 years of Age) 18 years of age
• Basis
 the age is set at 18 years
• No maximum age limit

14. Residence qualification
• Any Filipino citizen who is at least 18 years of age, a resident of the
Philippines for at least one year, and in the place where he intends to vote for
at least six months immediately preceding the election can file application for
registration. There are two types of voter registration: Computerized Voter's
List (CVL) electronic process and the Voters Registration Record (VRR)
manual one.