Article V

SUFFRAGE

Meaning
Suffrage is the right and obligation to vote of 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. people.

Nature
1. A mere privilege
Suffrage is not a natural right of the citizens but a privilege to be given or withheld by the lawmaking power subject to constitutional limitations. limitations. It should be granted to individuals only upon the fulfillment of certain minimum conditions deemed essential for the welfare of the society. society.

Nature
2. A political right
In the sense of a right conferred by the constitution, suffrage is classified as a political right, enabling very citizen to participate in the process of government to assure that it derives its powers from the consent of the governed. governed. one man, one vote

Scope
1. Elections


means by which people choose their officials for definite and fixed periods and to whom they entrust, for the time being s their representatives, the exercise of powers of government.

Scope
2. Plebiscite


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. It is likewise required by the Constitution to secure the approval of the people directly affected before certain proposed changes affecting certain local government units may be implemented

Scope
3. Referendum


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.

Scope
4. Initiative


process whereby the people directly propose and enact laws. Congress is mandated by the Constitution to provide as early as possible for a system of initiative and referendum. Amendments to the Constitution may likewise be directly proposed by the people through initiative.

Scope
5. 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 the qualified voters.

SEC.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.

Qualifications of Voters
He/She must be: 1. a citizen (male/female) of the Philippines; 2. not otherwise disqualified by law; 3. at least eighteen (18) years of age; 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.

Qualifications of Voters
Age Qualification
This suffrage qualification is based on the assumption that under a certain age, human beings do not have the maturity, experience, education, and sense of judgment that will enable them to vote with any reasonable degree of intelligence.

Qualifications of Voters
Residence Qualification


Permanent resident of the Philippines for at least one (1) year preceding the election. Six (6) months residence in a province, city or municipality - minimum length of time within a person can adequately familiarize himself with the needs and the personalities in the locality. -mechanical and unpurposive if given the right to vote before that period

Qualifications of Voters
Persons disqualified to vote Congress is responsible of determining who may be disqualified by the law or those precluded from exercising the right of suffrage.

Qualifications of Voters
Persons disqualified to vote
1. Any person who has been sentenced by final judgment to suffer imprisonment for not less than one (1) year, such disability not having year, been removed by plenary pardon or granted amnesty. But such person shall automatically reacquire the right to vote upon expiration of five (5) years after service of sentence; Any person who has been adjudge by final judgment by a competent court or tribunal of having committed any crime involving disloyalty to the duly constituted government such as rebellion, sedition, violation of antianti-subversion and firearms law, or any crime against national security, unless restored to his full civil and political rights in accordance with the law. Such person shall likewise automatically regain his right to vote upon expiration of five (5) years after service of sentence; and Insane or incompetent person as declared by competent authority.

2.

3.

Arguments justifying the lowering of voting age from 21 to 18.

1. 2. 3. It has the effect of broadening the base for democratic participation in the political process. The voting age of 21 years old is as old as the Roman Empire; therefore obsolete. It is the (alleged) findings of medical science that today s 18-year-old is physically at least 3 years ahead 18-yearof an 18-year-old of1900; 18-yearThe communication media explosion has resulted in making 18-year-old citizens better informed than their 18-yearparents. The Philippines is becoming an increasingly young country and more idealistic and are more change oriented than their elders.

4.

5.

The objection that 18-year-old citizens lack the maturity to 18-yearexercise an important political right is at best a debatable question; 7. If at the age of 18 one can enter into marriage contract, which is the most important in the life of a person, there is no reason why an 18-year-old should not be permitted to 18-yearvote; 8. If at the age of 18 one is mature enough to fight in defense of his country, he is old enough to be given a voice in the determination of public policy; 9. By including those under 12 but at least 18 to vote will make them feel that they are part of the decision-making decisionprocess and thereby at least increased their loyalty to our institution; 10. The smaller the number of electors in a particular community, the more limited the basis of consent. The reduction of the voting age is consistent with the theory of popular sovereignty which is one of the fundamental premises of our government.

6.

Arguments justifying removal of literacy requirement.

The illiterate voter is not necessarily an ignorant voter

Property requirement prohibited 1. Property ownership not a test of an individual s not capacity; capacity; 2. Property requirement inconsistent with concept of republican government; 3. Property requirement inconsistent with social justice principle

Other substantive requirements prohibited. 1. Education 2. Sex 3. Taxpaying ability Compulsory Suffrage 1. Arguments against compulsory suffrage. 2. Arguments in favor of compulsory suffrage.

SEC.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.

System for securing the secrecy and the sanctity of the ballot

System for absentee voting by qualified Filipinos