This document discusses suffrage and voting rights under Article V of the Philippine constitution. It defines suffrage as the right and obligation of qualified citizens to vote in elections and decisions submitted to the people. It outlines the qualifications to vote as being a citizen of the Philippines over 18 years old who has resided in the country for at least a year and in their local area for at least 6 months. It also discusses the scope of suffrage including elections, plebiscites, referendums, initiatives, and recalls. The document notes Congress must provide systems for absentee voting and for disabled/illiterate citizens to vote without assistance.

1. ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE

2. 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 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.

3. ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE Suffrage Suffrage is the right and obligation to vote of qualifiedcitizens in the election of certain national and local officers of the government and in the decision of public questions submitted to the people

4. ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE Nature of suffrage A merepriviledge – not a natural right; granted to individualsonlyuponfulfillment of certain minimum conditions. A political right – classified as a political right; enablescitizen to participate in the process of government.

5. ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE Scope of suffrage Election – means by which people choosetheirofficials for definite and fixedperiods and to whomtheyentrust, for the time being as theirrepresentatives, the exercise of powers of government.

6. ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE Scope of suffrage 2. Plebiscite – the vote of the people expressingtheirchoice for or against a proposedlaw or enactmentsubmitted to them. Example: November 25, 2009 plebiscite to ratify the conversion of the municipality of Dasmariñas province of Cavite into a component city.

7. ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE Scope of suffrage 3. Referendum – It is the submission of the a law or part thereofpassed by the national or locallegislative body to the votingcitizens of a country for their ratification or approval. Example : Philippine Martial Law Referendum (1973)

8. ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE Scope of suffrage 4. Initiative – the processwhereby the people directly propose and enactlaws. 5. Recall – method by which a public officermayberemovedfrom office duringhis tenure or before the expiration of histerm by a vote of the people after registration of a petitionsigned by a requiredpercentage of voters

9. ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE Qualifications of voters A citizen of the Philippines; Not otherwisedisqualified by law; At least 18 years of age; and Have resided in the Philippines for at least 1 year and in the place whereinhe proposes to vote for at least 6 monthspreceding the elections.

10. ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE Age qualification Minimum Age Basis No maximum agelimit

11. ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE Residence qualification Period of residence Importance

12. ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE Section 2 The Congress shall provide a system for securing the secrecy and sanctity of the ballot as well as a system for absentee voting by qualified Filipinos abroad.

13. ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE Section 2 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.

14. ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE System of securing the secrecy and santity of the ballot Untrammeledexercise of the right to vote – “…It is essential then to insure that the voters shall exercise their right freely, ‘uninfluenced by threats, intimidation or corrupt motives’ and ‘to secure a fair and honest count of the ballots.’”

15. ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE System of securing the secrecy and santity of the ballot 2. Voting by the disabled and illiterates. “It is the responsibility of the legislative body to enact procedures that ensures practice of people with disability and illiteracy of their right of suffrage.”

16. ARTICLE V: SUFFRAGE System for absenteevoting by qualifiedFilipinosabroad “…the right to suffrage extends even to Filipinos abroad provided that they possess all the qualifications mentioned therein and none of the disqualifications provided by law. It is the duty of the Congress to provide for a system of absentee voting by qualified Filipinos abroad.”