Content 10: Elections and

Political Parties

The nature of elections and

political parties in the context
of the Philippines
Learning Competency
• Describe the nature of elections and
political parties in the Philippines
• Identify the types of electoral systems
• Assess the implications of the type of
electoral systems on politics and
governance
• Analyze the nature of elections and
political parties in the Philippines
Suffrage (Article V)
• 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.
• The term suffrages originally were prayers.
• Later the meaning was extended to requests for
assistance, then to assistance itself, then the
assistance provided by a supporting vote, and
finally the vote itself.
• Suffrage – an inalienable right to vote
• Suffer – which means, to allow, to endure pain
and hardship
• Suffrage is defined as the right and obligation to
vote of qualified citizens in the election of
certain national or local officers of the
government and in the decision of public
questions submitted to the people.
• It is mandated in our Constitution that
sovereignty resides in the people and all
government authority emanates from
them.

• This is the very reason why the people

have given the right to choose their
respective leaders.
Scope of suffrage
1. Election – this refers to the means by which
people choose certain officials to represent
them in the administration of the
government. These representatives stay in
office for a fixed period of time.
2. Plebiscite – this refers to an election wherein
the people decide whether to accept or
reject certain changes in the Constitution. It
is also employed to determine the will of the
residents in a local government unit
regarding certain local issues.
3. Referendum – this refers to the submission of a
law or a part thereof passed by Congress or a
local legislative body to the people for their
approval or rejection.
4. Initiative - this refers to the process whereby
the people directly propose and enact laws.
Changes in the Constitution may likewise be
directly proposed by the people through
initiative.
5. Recall – this refers to the means by which a
local official may be removed from office even
before he finishes his term by a vote of the
people.
Qualifications of Voters
• Citizen of the Philippines
• At least 18 years of age
• Not otherwise disqualified by law
• A resident of the Philippines for at least
one year and in the place wherein he
proposes to vote for at least six months
preceding the election
Persons qualified and disqualified to vote
• The Constitution states the qualifications of
voters.
• It is the Congress that decides who should be
disqualified to vote.
• Under the present law, the following may not
exercise the right to vote:
1. Any person who has been sentenced to a
prison term of not less one (1) year, except
after five (5) years from completion of his
sentence.
2. Any person who has been found guilty by a
court of having committed a crime involving
disloyalty against the state such as rebellion,
treason, etc. except after five (5) years from
completion of sentence
3. Any person found to be not in normal mental
condition.
These persons will not be allowed to vote even
if they have all the qualifications provided in the
Constitution.
 Term of Max Max No.
POSITION Office Term of Years
1. President 6 years 1 6

2. Vice President 6 years 2 12

3. Senator 6 years 2 12

4. Member of House of Representative 3 years 3 9

5. Governor 3 years 3 9

6. Vice Governor 3 years 3 9

7. Board Member 3 years 3 9

8. City or Municipal Mayor 3 years 3 9

9. City or Municipal Vice Mayor 3 years 3 9

10. City or Municipal Councilor 3 years 3 9

11. Barangay Chairman 3 years 3 9

12. Councilman 3 years 3 9

• Section 2. the Congress shall provide a system
of securing the secrecy and sanctity of the
ballot as well as 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.
Overseas Absentee Voting
• Republic Act No. 9189 or The Overseas
Absentee Voting Act of 2003
• Allows qualified citizens of the Philippines
abroad to exercise their right to vote.
• Not disqualified by law
• At least 18 years old on the day of election
• May vote for president, vice president,
senators, and party-list representatives.
• Absentee voting refers to the process by
which qualified citizens of the Philippines
abroad exercise their right to vote.
• To ensure equal opportunity to all qualified
citizens of the Philippines abroad
• Voting shall be directly supervised by
representative of COMELEC
• 30 days before the actual date of elections in
the Philippines
• Seafarers, they shall cast their ballots any time
within 60 days before the day of election
Laws Related to elections in the
Philippines
1. Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 (December 3, 1985)
– Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines
2. Batas Pambansa Blg. 883 December 3, 1985)
– Set the date of February 7, 1986 as the
date for a Snap Election for President and
Vice President. Ferdinand Marcos and Arturo
Tolentino won the election, but were
overthrown by the EDSA Revolution, bringing
Corazon Aquino and Salvador Laurel to
power.
3. Republic Act No. 6735 (August 4, 1989) – Set up a
system of initiative and referendum
4. Republic Act 7166 (November 26, 1991) – Local
Absentee Voting Law
5. Republic Act No. 9006 (Feb. 12, 2001) – Fair
Election Act of 2001 – An act to enhance the holding
of free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible
elections through fair election practices
6. Republic Act No. 9369 (Jan. 23, 2007) – amending
the Election Modernization Act – An act amending
Republic Act No. 8436 entitled “An Act Authorizing
the COMELEC to use an Automated Election System
on the May 11, 1998 National and Local Elections.