Module 14 Voter Awareness

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Module 14

VOTERS’ AWARENESS
The Right of Suffrage

The human right to vote is embodied in three


instruments: Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(UDHR); the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights; and in the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
The Philippines is governed by these three documents
which similarly mandate universality of the right;
equality in access to public service; and secrecy of
votes.
Article 21 (1-3) of the Art.25 (a-c) of International Art. V, Sec. 1-2 of The 1987
Universal Declaration of Covenant on Civil and Political Philippine Constitution
Human Rights Rights, (March 1976)
(December 10, 1948)

1 Everyone has the right Every citizen shall have the right
to take part in the and the opportunity, without any of 1 Suffrage may be exercised
government of his the distinctions mentioned in article by all citizens of the
2 and without unreasonable Philippines not otherwise
country, directly or restrictions: disqualified by law.
through freely chosen 2 The Congress shall provide
representatives. (a) To take part in the conduct of a system for securing the
2 Everyone has the right public affairs, directly or through secrecy and sanctity of ballot
freely chosen representatives; as well as a system for
to equal access to public
service in his country. (b) To vote and to be elected at absentee voting by qualified
genuine periodic elections which Filipinos abroad. The
3 The will of the people shall be
shall be by universal and equal congress shall also design a
the basis of the authority of the procedure for the disabled
suffrage and shall be held by
government; this will shall be and the illiterates to vote
secret ballot, guaranteeing the
expressed in periodic and free expression of the will of the without the assistance of other
genuine elections, which shall electors; persons. Until then, they shall
be by universal and equal be allowed to vote under
suffrage and shall be held by (c) To have access, on general existing laws and such rules as
terms of equality, to public the Commission on elections
secret vote or by equivalent free service in his country. may promulgate to protect the
voting procedures. secrecy of the ballot.
History of Elections

A system of election was first practiced in the Philippines


during the Spanish and American colonial period. But the
process was only limited to male voters and was more of a
ceremonial rather than a genuine democratic mechanism.
Sectoral struggle and political participation were only
realized in 1937: when Act 4112, granting women the
right of suffrage, was implemented; and when the peasant
movements gained meaningful participation in political
parties and in actually filling of government positions.
The first democratic election after WW II was the
1946 election for President and Vice-President of the
Republic, Members of the Senate and of the House of
Representatives. From then on, the country operated on a
two-party system where two major political parties, the
Nacionalista Party and the Liberal Party, figure in succeeding
elections.
When Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972, the 1935
Constitution was scrapped, an Interim Batasang Pambansa
was created and a new (1973) Constitution was adopted.
Election for the Interim Batasang Pambansa was
called for in 1978. The Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL)
became the administration party. The election was claimed to
be towards restoration of old political order but Marcos’
purpose was to gain legitimacy for his unpopular
administration and to create a rubber stamp legislature. The
exercise defied democratic procedures, and was
characterized by rampant electoral manipulation done by the
Marcos government to ensure victory.
Local election in 1980 was characterized by
widespread terrorism, violence and wholesale fraud.
The Aquino assassination in 1983 resulted in waves
of protest forcing the creation of wider democratic space.
Batasang Pambansa elections happened in 1984 to replace
the Interim Batasang Pambansa. The exercise was intended
to divert the people’s attention away from the Aquino
assassination. Still, the period was marked by weakening
popularity of Marcos and the people’s growing political will
to guarantee that their sentiments are reflected in election
results.
Snap elections were held in 1986. The widespread
election manipulations and irregularities and the worsening
social, political and economic order triggered the EDSA
uprising in the same year. The mass action known as the
People Power Revolution of 1986 led to the ouster of
Marcos, the collapse of KBL and the installation of Corazon
Aquino as the President.
Aquino’s program of restoring democracy, promoting
stability and establishing political legitimacy involved three
major electoral exercises: national plebiscite for the approval
of the 1987 Constitution in February 1987; election for
members of the Senate and House of Representatives in May
1987; and local elections in January 1988. The 1987
Constitution provided for a multi-party system.
During the 1992 synchronized national and local
elections, the people voted for president for the first time
under the 1987 Constitution. The main campaign issue was
doing away with “trapo” or traditional politics. In 1995,
congressional and local elections were held. A new form of
fraud dubbed as “dagdag-bawas” or the subtraction of votes
from one candidate to be added to the contending candidate
was in practice during these two major elections.
In 1998, the first party-list elections were held.
Joseph Estrada was seated as President of the Republic with
popular support. However in January 2001, EDSA DOS, a
repeat of the 1986 People Power removed Estrada from
Malacañang and seated Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the
new president.
Elections and Democracy

 The Constitution guarantees that we are a sovereign people,


where all government authority comes from. Sovereignty or
the power to govern is exercised directly through suffrage
and indirectly through public officials elected by the people.
The will of the people, then, is best expressed in clean,
orderly and honest election.
 The citizen voters are entitled to free and informed choice
on whom to vote and must be dictated by the genuine
welfare of the majority. Every individual political
choices and decisions made by the citizen voters will
determine the kind of government that will serve them.
Specific Mechanisms

 Since the enactment of the 1987 Constitution, elections for

President and Vice-president are held every six years, while

elections for Senators and members of the House of

Representatives and local government officials happen every

three years.

 At the local level, barangay elections and Sangguniang

Kabataan elections are also held periodically.


 The Constitution and the 1991 Local Government Code
(LGC) mandate sectoral representation in the legislative
bodies of local governments.
 People participation is also provided for by the Local
Government Code through representation in consultative
bodies such as the local health boards, local school
boards, local peace and order councils and local
development councils in all local levels.
There is also the LGC-mandated barangay assembly
(peoples’ assembly or meeting of all over-15-year-old-
residents of the barangay). The assembly has the power to
hear and pass upon the report of Sangguniang Barangay’s
(SB) performance. It can also recommend measures for
legislation by SB.
The Barangay Assembly is one manifestation of people’s
power and a (truly) direct and participatory democratic
exercise.
The latest development in upholding the right of suffrage
is Republic Act 9189, which provides for a system of
absentee voting for qualified Filipinos abroad.
Government Structure
Powers and Functions of Public Servants

 Executive power is vested in the President of the Republic.


This power covers:
 control of all executive departments and all implementing
agencies of the government;
appointment of high officials in the government (heads of
executive departments/cabinet members, ambassadors,
public ministers, consuls, officers of the armed forces);
seeing to the execution and implementation of laws and
policies
Local government units also exercise executive functions
through the governors of provinces, municipal and city
mayors.
Legislative power is lodged in the Congress of the
Philippines: the Senate and the House of
Representatives. Legislative functions include:
 Statute making, constitution making, and amending of
constitution;
 Appropriations/financial function;
 Oversight function;
In the law-making process, the president can either
approve or veto a law passed by Congress. It would require
2/3s vote by the legislative body to finally pass the bill into
law. At the local level, chief executives can also veto any
ordinance on the ground that it is prejudicial to the public. In
turn, the sanggunian or the local legislative body can
override the veto, also by 2/3s vote of the whole sanggunian.
Election Process

Qualifications and Disqualifications of a Voter

All citizens of the Philippines, eighteen years of age or

over, and a resident of the Philippines for one year and in the

city or municipality wherein he proposes to vote for at least six

months immediately preceding the election are qualified to

vote.
The following shall be disqualified from voting:
a. Any person who has been sentenced by final
judgment to suffer imprisonment for not less than one year.
However, he/ she may reacquire the right to vote upon
expiration of five years after service of sentence.
b. Any person who has been adjudged by final judgment
by competent court or tribunal of having committed any
crime involving disloyalty to the duly constituted
government such as rebellion, sedition, violation of the anti-
subversion and firearms laws, or any crime against national
security, unless restored to his full civil and political rights in
accordance with law: Provided, That he shall regain his right
to vote automatically upon expiration of five years after
service of sentence.
c. Insane or incompetent persons as declared by
competent authority
In addition, RA 9189 or the Overseas Absentee
Voting Law entitles all Filipino citizens overseas, not
otherwise disqualified by law, and immigrants and
permanent residents with affidavit of intent to resume
residence in the Philippines, to vote for elective positions in
the national level: President; Vice-President; Senators; and
Party-List Representatives
Election Process
Registration

Preliminary to the voting exercise is the registration of

voters. During the registration process, the qualified voter

accomplishes and files a sworn application for registration

before the election officer of the city or municipality

wherein he resides and including the same in the book of

registered voters upon approval by the Election

Registration Board. This process is currently guided by RA

8189 or the Continuing Voters’ Registration Act of 1996.


The Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) Law applies the
mechanics in RA 8189 of personal registration either with
the Election Board of Inspectors in their place of residence
before their departure or with the representative of the
Commission in the Philippine embassies, consulates and
other Foreign Service establishment in their temporary
residence overseas.
Election Day
After undergoing the registration process and
during Election Day, the voter proceeds to the casting of
votes, which is conducted by the Board of Election
Inspectors (BEI). All voters whose name appears in the list
of voters will be allowed to vote. Official candidates and
registered political parties and party-list groups are
represented in the precincts by watchers.
Public counting of votes starts immediately after
the close of voting at 3:00 p.m. Votes for candidates,
simultaneously with the reading, are entered in the tally
board and the election returns. Official watchers shall be
permitted full access to the proceedings, but only the
members of the BEI can write or place marks on the tally
board and on the election returns. All questions on
appreciation of ballots are decided by BEI by majority
votes.
After all ballots have been read and recorded, the
BEI signs and thumb marks the election returns and lets
the principal watchers of six major political parties do the
same. Sic copies of the election returns are placed inside
corresponding envelopes, sealed and submitted to officials
concerned. These returns are then distributed to the
Comelec, to designated canvassers, and candidates/parties
through their watchers and are then used for canvassing of
votes.
Modernized Election Process
Republic Act 8436 or the Election Automation Law,

legislated in 1997, mandates the use of automated election

system in the country as early as the May 1998 elections.

This system will comprise the use of appropriate technology

for voting and electronic devices to count votes and

canvass/consolidate results.
The law also provides for the following features of the
automated system: a) use of appropriate ballots; b) stand-
alone machine which will count and consolidate elections
results; c) provision for audit trails; d) minimum human
intervention; and e) adequate safeguard and security
measures.
Implementation of RA 8436 through Comelec Resolution
02-0170

Phase I Voter Registration and Validation System

Phase II Automated Counting and Canvassing System

Phase III Electronic Transmission of Election Results


Voter Behavior and Elections

 A 2003 update study on voter behavior suggest the top four

factors on what determines the vote of Filipino electorate:

1. candidate’s public servant image;

2. political machinery;

3. candidate’s popularity; and


4. endorsement of traditional network and
organizations which include the family, the church,
the ward leaders, and formal groups and
association.
 A common element of patronage culture is utang na loob.
The powers-that-be use this to ensure that their political
and economic interests will be served. For instance, a
“powerful” politician may invite a candidate to run under
his political party and in return, the candidate will feel
indebted and eventually feel pressured to support the
political agenda of his benefactor (even if he is opposed to
said agenda).
 For the poor, giving their support to a candidate is seen as an
investment so that they can depend on the politician for help,
e.g. donations, medicine, school fees. Campaign supporters
view their help as a personal favor that the elected official
should perceive as utang na loob. In return, they expect the
official to accept personal invitations from their
organizations, to comply with personal requests for
donations, to award them perhaps with a government
position upon electoral victory.
 In preparation for a coming election, people with plans of
running for public office would be seen attending public
functions from the barangay (community) to the provincial
level. For constituents at the national level, candidates
engage themselves in media exposure.
 Conversely, voting has always been determined by
popularity of the candidate and financial and party
machinery, which enhances the popularity of a candidate.
Elections now become a high-spending process to the
detriment of the candidates who has neither the financial
resources nor the machinery, which can provide for posters
and airtime in mass media.
 The traditional guns, goons, and gold element of
Filipino politics continue to be a real phenomenon in
certain districts, provinces, and regions particularly in
the local level.
 Guiding Vision and Action Points for
Citizen Voters

Vision of Good Government, Leaders and Citizen Voters

The government, the leaders and the citizen voters


are now faced with the challenge of advancing various
reforms in the system and in attitudes and perceptions
towards a system of wider and genuine participation of the
grassroots in politics and governance, and towards citizen’s
political maturity.
 Government

1. Advancing democratization and good governance

2. Making available a meaningful and accessible


election process

3. Maximizing the benefits of democratic


mechanisms for the interest and welfare of all sectors of
society, particularly the marginalized and
underrepresented sectors.
4. Ensuring that the government agenda and programs
of action are genuinely reflective of peoples’ agenda.

5. Advocating new politics and new kind of leaders


that engage the participation of citizen voters in running
the affairs of the government
 Leaders

1. Capitalizing on the program of action and public


service rather than on popularity in winning elections

2. Promoting the envisioned government and


engaging the citizens’ stake in governance
 Citizen Voters

1. Exercising the right to vote and the duty of


guarding the integrity of the vote itself from any
fraudulent maneuvering

2. Using conscience in choosing the right leaders

3. Safeguarding and defending the democratic


mechanisms and institutions
 Action Points for Citizen-Voters
 Below are some action points for the citizen-voters in his/her
exercise of the right of suffrage.

 Pre-Elections

 Engage in preparatory activities that would enable


him/her to exercise the right of suffrage and the right to an
informed and free choice.
 Register during the period allotted for voter registration
 Be informed of the issues, platforms and personalities of
the political candidates
 Set specific guidelines in choosing government leaders
in terms of the candidates’ social affiliations and
interests, competence, lifestyle, performance records.
 During elections
Exercise vigilance and the right to vote

 Vote according to your conscience


 Practice vigilance by protecting the integrity of your own
vote from any undue influence, volunteering in
organizations that work for clean and peaceful elections,
watching out for instances of cheating in the elections, and
informing the rest of the electorate of such activities.
 Post-Elections
Practice continued vigilance and participate in
governance

 Be vigilant in the counting and canvassing of votes


 Another arena of participation is open to the citizen voter
once the candidates they have voted for assume office.
 Participate in local governance through development
planning in the barangay level, consultations and public
hearings, representation in local special bodies.
 The citizen voter can also engage in the political and
electoral process in other ways such as:

a. running for office.

b. supporting/campaigning for a political party,


candidate or party-list group.

c. supporting initiatives of civil society organizations


to ensure honest and peaceful elections.

d. making views known to the elected representatives.


Reference:

Prepared by the Institute for Political and Electoral


Reform (IPER) with the support of Consortium on
Electoral Reforms (CER) and the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP)

Adopted by the 2003 National Voters’ Education Summit

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