Lesson 6 – Voter Citizenship

Education
The Filipino citizen-voter education cover thepolitical and electoral system, human rights, and governance that
serve to contribute to effortsat developing matured and informedpolitical attitudes and decisions of Filipino citizen-
voters.

What is election?
• Election is the means by
which the people choose
their officials for definite
and fixed periods Learning Content

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 What are the different types of
electoral exercises?
The two (2) types of electoral exercises are:

• a) regular elections (national, local, barangay,

ARMM, SK)
• b) special elections (plebiscite, referendum,
initiative, recall)

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What is the right of suffrage?
Suffrage is the human right to vote to which, in the
Philippines, is embodied in three documents:

• a) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

(UDHR)
• b) The International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights; and
• c) The 1987 Philippine Constitution.

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 WHOAREQUALIFIED TO VOTE IN PHILIPPINE ELECTIONS?

a) Citizens of the Philippines;

b) Those who are 18 years old and above on the day of
elections;
c) A resident of the Philippines for one year and in the city or
municipality wherein he/she proposes to vote for at least six
months before the elections.

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 WHOAREQUALIFIED TO VOTE UNDER THE
OVERSEASABSENTEE VOTING LAW?

a.) Filipino citizen abroad

b) Those who are 18 years old and above on the day of elections
c) Immigrants with affidavit to resume residence in the Philippines
d) Permanent residents with affidavit of intent to resume
residence in the Philippines.

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 WHOAREDISQUALIFIED BY LAW TO VOTE IN PHILIPPINE
ELECTIONS?

a) Persons sentenced to be imprisoned for not less than one

year
b) Persons who committed rebellion, sedition, violation of the
anti-subversion and firearms law, or any crime against national
security or disloyalty to the government
c) Insane or incompetent persons

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 HOW OFTEN ARE THE ELECTIONS HELD?

a) Every 2ndMonday of May for national and local election

National and local elections are held on the second Monday of May every third year starting 1992. The
presidential and vice presidential elections are held every six years. Election Days in which the president
and vice president and barangay officials are not elected are called "midterm elections"; Election Days in
which the president and vice president are elected are called "presidential elections". Barangay-level
officials, although are currently elected in the same year as the other officials, are elected separately the
succeeding months.
b) Every last Monday of October, every 3 years for barangay and SK officials
Barangay-level elections, starting from 2007, are to be held every three years during the last Monday of
October, although these elections are frequently postponed (and incumbents' terms are extended) as a
cost-saving measure.
c) Every 3 years from March 1993 – ARRM elections
Elections for the positions in the Bangsamoro Autonofrom 2011, are to be held every three years during
the second Monday of May. mous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), starting from 2011, are to be
held every three years during the second Monday of May.

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What are the actions points for citizen-voters in exercising the right of suffrage?

BEFORE ELECTIONS DURING ELECTIONS

Prepare to exercise the right of suffrage and the right to Exercise vigilance and the right to vote.
an informed and free choice.
• Register during the period allowed for voter • Vote according to your conscience
registration.
• Protect the integrity of your own vote from any other
• Be informed of the issues, platforms, and undue influence
personalities of the political candidates.
• Volunteer in organizations that work for clean and
• Set specific guidelines in choosing government peaceful elections
leaders in terms of the candidate’s social affiliations
and interests, competence, lifestyle, and • Watch out for instance of cheating in the elections
performance records. and inform authorities and the rest of the electorate
of such activities.
• Conduct/participate in public debates that would
inform citizens and gain the commitment of the
candidates to integrate, foremost, the interests and
welfare of the citizen in their program of
government.
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 BEFORE ELECTIONS

Practice continued vigilance and participate in

governance.
• Be vigilant in the counting and canvassing of votes
• Attend consultations and public hearings, and
participate in local special bodies.
• Legislate advocacy – s process where citizens talk with
lawmakers and other implementers in the government to
ensure that the concerns and welfare of the general
public are included in the discussion and making of
laws.

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THE ELECTION PROCESS

These are the steps in the election process:

• Registration day
• Revision day
• List of votes
• Casting of votes
• Counting of votes
• Preparation of election returns and other reports
• Distribution of election returns
• Board of Canvassers (for President and Vice President
• Board of Canvassers (for Senators)
• Board of Canvassers (for Provincial/City/District/Municipal)
• Proclamation of winning candidates

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CITIZEN-VOTER PARTICIPATION IN POLITICALAFFAIRS
Initiation and Referendum
Through the system of initiative and referendum, the people can directly propose, exact, and reject laws at the
local level. Citizens may directly propose amendments to the Constitution by a petition of at least 12% of the total
number of registered voters where three (3) % of registered voters in each legislative district are presented
Plebiscite
Through plebiscite, the people approve or reject the call for a Constitution, approve or reject proposed changes in
the Constitution and, at the local level, express their will on certain local issues.
Sectoral Representation
The party-list system of representation gives sectors the chance to be represented in Congress together with
Congressmen/women or Representative. The Constitution and the 1991 Local Government Code (LGC) allow for
representation of sectors in the local legislature or Sanggunian.
Local special Bodies
Ordinary citizens are called to sit in local special bodies such as the local health boards, school boards, peace and
order councils, and development councils for consultation. The barangay assembly has the power to hear and judge
the report of Sangguniang Barangay’s (SB) performance.
Absentee Voting system
Republic Act 9189 or the Absentee Voting Law provides for a system which allows qualified Filipinos abroad to vote in
national elections in the Philippines.

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