SUFFRAGE

ARTICLE V – SUFFRAGE SECTION 1

SUFFRAGE MAY BE EXERCISED BY ALL CITIZENS OF THE PHILIPPINES NOT OTHERWISE DISQUALIFIED BY LAW, WHO ARE AT LEAST EIGHTEEN (18) 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.

What is Suffrage?

Suffrage is the constitutional right and privilege of qualified Filipino citizens to vote during elections.

is the people's voice in government

Suffrage

It is one of the strongest expressions of democracy because it allows citizens to choose leaders and influence government policies peacefully. Simply stated,

Suffrage

Constitutional Meaning of Suffrage

a political right

a constitutional guarantee

exercised personally

exercised through elections

Voting is both

a right

a responsibility

QUALIFICATIONS OF A VOTER (NATIONAL, LOCAL AND BARANGAY LEVEL)

FILIPINO CITIZEN

AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD

RESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

RESIDENT OF THE VOTING LOCALITY

REGISTERED VOTER

QUALIFICATIONS OF A VOTER (SK LEVEL)

BE A FILIPINO CITIZEN.

BE AT LEAST 15 YEARS OLD BUT NOT MORE THAN 30 YEARS OLD

HAVE RESIDED IN THE BARANGAY WHERE YOU INTEND TO VOTE FOR AT LEAST SIX (6) MONTHS

BE REGISTERED AS AN SK VOTER AND INCLUDED IN THE OFFICIAL LIST OF VOTERS

NOT BE OTHERWISE DISQUALIFIED BY LAW.

CANDIDATES FOR SK CHAIRPERSON/MEMBER MUST BE 18 TO 24 YEARS OLD ON ELECTION DAY.

WHO CANNOT VOTE? PERSONS DISQUALIFIED BY LAW INCLUDE THOSE WHO

HAVE BEEN DECLARED MENTALLY INCOMPETENT BY COMPETENT AUTHORITY

HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF CRIMES CARRYING DISQUALIFICATION UNLESS RESTORED BY LAW

FAIL TO MEET RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

ARE NOT REGISTERED VOTERS

LEGAL DISQUALIFICATIONS ARE INTENDED TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF ELECTIONS WHILE RESPECTING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PHILIPPINE ELECTIONS.

UNIVERSAL

EQUAL

SECRET

DIRECT

FREE

HONEST

PEACEFUL

CREDIBLE

UNIVERSAL

EVERY QUALIFIED CITIZEN HAS THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

EQUAL

ONE PERSON = ONE VOTE. NO ONE'S VOTE IS MORE VALUABLE.

SECRET

NO ONE SHOULD KNOW WHOM YOU VOTED FOR.

DIRECT

CITIZENS PERSONALLY VOTE FOR CANDIDATES.

FREE

VOTING MUST BE VOLUNTARY.

HONEST

NO CHEATING.

PEACEFUL

NO VIOLENCE.

CREDIBLE

ELECTION RESULTS SHOULD REFLECT THE TRUE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

WHY IS SUFFRAGE IMPORTANT?

1. CHOOSES GOVERNMENT LEADERS CITIZENS DETERMINE WHO GOVERNS.

2. HOLDS OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE POOR LEADERS CAN BE REPLACED.

3. PROTECTS DEMOCRACY WITHOUT VOTING, DEMOCRACY WEAKENS.

4. ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION CITIZENS BECOME ACTIVE PARTNERS IN GOVERNANCE.

5. SHAPES NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GOVERNMENT POLICIES AFFECT:

SHAPES NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GOVERNMENT POLICIES AFFECT:

EDUCATION

HEALTHCARE

INFRASTRUCTURE

ECONOMY

PEACE AND ORDER

ENVIRONMENT

COMMON ELECTION PROBLEMS

VOTE BUYING

POLITICAL DYNASTIES

FAKE NEWS

ELECTION VIOLENCE

POLITICAL POLARIZATION

MISINFORMATION

VOTER APATHY

A RESPONSIBLE VOTER

STUDIES CANDIDATES

EXAMINES QUALIFICATIONS

VERIFIES INFORMATION

REJECTS FAKE NEWS

REJECTS VOTE-BUYING

REJECTS INTIMIDATION

VOTES ACCORDING TO CONSCIENCE

RESPECTS ELECTION RESULTS WHILE REMAINING VIGILANT

CWTS DEVELOPS:

CIVIC CONSCIOUSNESS

VOLUNTEERISM

LEADERSHIP

NATIONALISM

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS DO NOT ONLY VOLUNTEER. THEY ALSO:

VOTE WISELY

PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNANCE

MONITOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS

PROMOTE TRUTHFUL INFORMATION

REJECT CORRUPTION

ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT