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• Suffrage


  The right and obligation of the people to vote in an election of candidates aspiring for public office
• Suffrage is not a natural right of the citizens but merely a privilege given or withheld by the lawmaking power, subject to constitutional limitations
• Election


  The selection of a person or persons for office by vote
• Plebiscite


  The submission of a political issue for the electorate to decide by direct vote, either for or against
• Referendum


  The submission of a proposed law to the electorate of a country for their ratification or rejection of an important public question
• Referendum and plebiscite in practice have basically the same objectives
• Initiative


  A legal process whereby the registered voters of a local government unit may directly propose, enact, amend any ordinance
• Recall


  A method by which an elected public official may be removed from office before the expiration of the term if his performance is found to be unsatisfactory (or due to loss of confidence)
• The Commission on Elections, an independent constitutional body of the government, is primarily organized to enforce laws on election
• The intention is to place the Commission on Elections outside the influence of political parties and control of the legislative, executive, and judicial organs of the government
• Under Philippine laws, an individual can aspire for public office as long as he meets the prescribed qualifications for a voter, even if he lacks the moral and intellectual qualities
• Majority of the electorate, those who belong to the marginal level of economic existence, usually barter their ballots for money
• Many voters are easily deceived by the beautiful promises of the candidates
• Many voters vote on the basis of popularity
• Movie actors and actresses, comedians, television, and sports celebrities generally win elections
• Brilliant jurists, gifted-men-of-letters, eminent scientists, and renowned educators are seldom elected to high office in Philippine government
• After election, the winning party has to reward its numerous members, supporters, and friends with jobs even if some of them are not qualified
• The government has to spend much to satisfy the winning party's members, supporters, and friends
• The members of Congress are being challenged to pass a comprehensive bill that will make the computerization of the electoral process as a safeguard mechanism to protect the integrity of our election
• Media (to include social media) should be encouraged to educate our voters about political issues and problems
• Columnists of different newspapers/written media should write what is true
• The newspapers and other printed materials should not be used to promote lies because of vested interest (to include the social media in propagation of fake news and propaganda)
• Philippine elections, for all flaws, can attain political maturity if, with determined efforts, the electorate would realize the value of election through education
• Qualifications for suffrage


  • Citizenship
  • Residence
  • Sex
  • Age
  • Mental and moral qualifications
• In the Philippines, the Commission on Election (COMELEC) as an independent constitutional body, is directly in charge of enforcing and administering all laws relative to conduct of elections
• Registration of qualified voters before election day is an important mechanism instituted by poll body in order to prevent election fraud, like "flying voters" and other election malpractices
• The New Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines makes registering and voting as mandatory obligation of every qualified citizen
• Powers and Functions of the Commission on Election


  • Enforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of an election, plebiscite, initiative, referendum, and recall
  • Exercise exclusive original jurisdiction all contests relating to the elections, return, and qualifications of all elective, provincial, city officials and appellate jurisdiction over all contests involving elective municipal and barangay officials
  • Decide, except those involving the right to vote, all questions affecting elections
  • Deputize, with the concurrence of the President, law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the government, including the AFP for the exclusive purpose of ensuring the orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections
  • Registration, of political parties, organization, or coalition/accreditation of citizens' arms of the COMELEC
  • File, upon a verified complaint, or on its own initiative, petitions in court for the inclusion or exclusion of voters, investigate and where appropriate prosecute cases for violations of election laws
  • Recommend to Congress effective measures to minimize election spending and to prevent and penalize all forms of election frauds, offenses, malpractices, and nuisance candidates
  • Recommend to the President the removal of any officer or employee it has deputized, or the imposition of any other disciplinary action for violation or disregard of, or disobedience to it
  • Submit to the president and Congress a comprehensive report on the conduct of each election, plebiscite, initiative, referendum, or recall
  • Exercise supervision and control over officials required to perform duties relative to the conduct of election
  • Promulgate rules and regulations
  • Summon parties to a controversy pending before it
  • Punish contempt
• The Commission on Elections is authorized to use automated election system or systems in the same election in different provinces, wherein paper-based or a direct recording electronic election system as may deem appropriate and practical for the process of voting, counting of votes and canvassing/consolidation and transmittal of results of electoral exercises
• All citizens of the Philippines abroad, who are not otherwise disqualified by law, at least eighteen (18) years of age on the day of election, may vote for President, Vice President, Senators and Party-list Representatives, as well as in all national referenda and plebiscites
• Local Absentee Voters


  • Members of the AFP and PNP and other government officers and employees who are duly registered voters and who, on election day, may temporarily be assigned in connection with the performance of election duties to place where they are not registered voters
  • Members of the Board of Election Inspectors and their substitutes may vote in the polling place where they are assigned on election day
  • Members of media, media practitioners, including the technical and support staff who are duly registered voters and who, on election day, may not be able to vote due to the performance of their functions in covering and reporting on the elections
• Absentee voters may only vote for national position
• An Illiterate or PWD may vote through an assistor who may either be a relative within the 4th civil degree, a confidant who belongs to the same household, or a BEI member
• An assistor, except for a BEI member, may only assist up to 3 times
• Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) who may vote


  • Confined in jail, formally charged for any crime/s and awaiting/undergoing trials
  • Serving sentence of imprisonment for less than one (1) year
  • Whose conviction is on appeal
• Political party


  An organized group of citizens advocating an ideology or platform, principle, and policies for the general conduct of government
• A free and open party system shall be allowed to be evolve according to the free choice of the people, subject to the provision of this Article
• Religious denominations and sects shall not be registered as political parties
• Those which seek to achieve their goals through violence or unlawful means, or refuse to uphold and adhere to the Constitution, or which are supported by any foreign government shall likewise be refused registration as political parties
• Marginalized and underrepresented


  Refers to the sector in Section 5, Paragraph 2 of Article VI of the 1987 Constitution that are, by their nature, economically marginalized and underrepresented