The document discusses the concept of suffrage under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, including defining suffrage as the right to vote, outlining different types of suffrage like universal and woman suffrage, and describing the qualifications to vote in the Philippines including age, residency requirements, and provisions for absentee and overseas voting. It emphasizes the importance of suffrage in securing Philippine democracy and protecting the right of all citizens to vote freely.
The document discusses the concept of suffrage under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, including defining suffrage as the right to vote, outlining different types of suffrage like universal and woman suffrage, and describing the qualifications to vote in the Philippines including age, residency requirements, and provisions for absentee and overseas voting. It emphasizes the importance of suffrage in securing Philippine democracy and protecting the right of all citizens to vote freely.
The document discusses the concept of suffrage under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, including defining suffrage as the right to vote, outlining different types of suffrage like universal and woman suffrage, and describing the qualifications to vote in the Philippines including age, residency requirements, and provisions for absentee and overseas voting. It emphasizes the importance of suffrage in securing Philippine democracy and protecting the right of all citizens to vote freely.
The document discusses the concept of suffrage under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, including defining suffrage as the right to vote, outlining different types of suffrage like universal and woman suffrage, and describing the qualifications to vote in the Philippines including age, residency requirements, and provisions for absentee and overseas voting. It emphasizes the importance of suffrage in securing Philippine democracy and protecting the right of all citizens to vote freely.
What is suffrage? Suffrage is 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. Types of Suffrage Universal Suffrage – where it exists, the right to vote is not restricted by sex, race, social status, education level or wealth.
Woman Suffrage – it is the right of women to vote on the
same terms as men.
Equal Suffrage – it may be sometimes confused with
Universal Suffrage, although the meaning of the former is the removal of graded votes, wherein a voter could possess a number of votes in accordance with income, wealth of social status Census Suffrage– aka “censitary suffrage”, the opposite of Equal Suffrage, meaning that the votes cast by those eligible to vote are not equal but are weighed differently according to the person‟s rank in the census
Compulsory Suffrage– those who are eligible to vote are
required by law to do so
Business Vote – in local government in England and some of its
ex-colonies, businesses formerly had, and in some places still have, a vote in the urban area in which they paid rates. This is an extension of the historical property-based franchise from natural persons to other legal persons. 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. Nature of Suffrage Mere Privilege – suffrage is not a natural right of the citizens but a privilege to be given or with held by the law making power subject to constitutional limitations
Political Right - enabling every citizen of the country
to participate in the process of government to assure that its powers from the consent of the governed. Scope of Suffrage ELECTION – means by which people choose their representatives who are entrusted the exercise of the powers of the government TYPES OF ELECTION 1. General Election 2. National Elections 3. Local Elections 4. Special Elections Scope of Suffrage PLEBISCITE – process by which the people either reject or approve an amendment or revision of the Constitution
- a vote on a ballot question.
INITIATIVE – process by which people directly propose and enact laws
REFERENDUM –procedure whereby a proposed legislation is referred
to electorate for settlement of their direct votes
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 Qualifications of Voters A citizen 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 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 obliged by law to register. 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. What is absentee voting? Absentee Voting refers to the process by which qualified citizens of the Philippines abroad can exercise their right to vote. Two Types of Absentee Voters 1. Local absentee voters include people who are working during Election Day like soldiers, policemen, government employees and the like.
2. Overseas absentee voters refer to Filipinos residing
abroad. They are eligible to vote on national positions only. Overseas absentee voters may vote in Philippine embassies and consulates, and voting begins as early as a 4 months prior to the election.
The voting can be as long as 6 months in very few situations.
Importance of Suffrage to provide a system for securing the secrecy and sanctity of the ballot
to secure the very essence of Philippine democracy and to protect the
illiterates and disabled from being disenfranchised
It is very 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.
As a final 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.
