Suffrage: A Citizens Right and Duty

Voters Education for Persons With Disabilities and Senior Citizens

By MABINI Movement

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 21
Everyone has the right to take part in the government
of his country, directly or through freely chosen
representatives.
Everyone has the right of equal access to public service
in his country.
The will of the people shall be the basis of the
authority of government; this will shall be expressed in
periodic and genuine elections which shall be by
universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret
vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

International Covenant on Civil and

Political Rights
Article 25. Every citizen shall have the right and the
opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in
article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions
To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or
through freely chosen representatives
To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections
which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall
be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free
expression of the will of the electors
To have access, on general terms of equality, to public
service in his country

The 1987 Philippine Constitution

Article V. Suffrage
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 1987 Philippine Constitution

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.
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.

UN Convention on Rights of Persons

with Disabilities
Article 29. Participation in political and public life
State Parties shall guarantee to persons with disabilities
political rights and the opportunity to enjoy them on an
equal basis with others, and shall undertake:
To ensure that persons with disabilities can effectively
and fully participate in political and public life on an
equal basis with others, directly or through freely
chosen representatives, including the right and
opportunity for persons with disabilities to vote and be
elected, inter alia, by:

UN Convention on Rights of Persons

with Disabilities
1. Ensuring that voting procedures, facilities and materials
are appropriate, accessible and easy to understand and
use;
2. Protecting the right of persons with disabilities to vote
by secret ballot in elections and public referendums
without intimidation, and to stand for elections, to
effectively hold office and perform all public functions at
all levels of government, facilitating the use of assistive
and new technologies where appropriate;
3. Guaranteeing the free expression of the will of persons
with disabilities as electors and to this end, where
necessary, at their request, allowing assistance in voting
by a person of their own choice;

UN Convention on Rights of Persons

with Disabilities
To promote actively an environment in which persons
with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in
the conduct of public affairs, without discrimination
and on an equal basis with others, and encourage their
participation in public affairs, including:
1. Participation in non-governmental organizations and
associations concerned with the public and political
life of the country, and in the activities and
administration of political parties;
2. Forming and joining organizations of persons with
disabilities to represent persons with disabilities at
international, national, regional and local levels

Incheon Goals Objectives Targets and

Strategies
Promote participation in political processes and in decision making
The new decade must witness greater progress in the participation of
diverse groups of persons with disabilities, including women with
disabilities, in political processes and in decision-making. Furthermore,
empowerment and support measures are needed for persons with
disabilities to exercise their right to vote. The new decade is an
opportunity for concerted efforts to give enhanced attention in
disability-related legislation, policies and programs to those groups
that are marginalized
Ensure that, by 2022, persons with disabilities, including women
with disabilities, are represented in decision-making bodies.
Provide reasonable accommodation to enhance the participation
of persons with disabilities in the political process.

Magna Carta for Persons With

Disabilities
Section 29. System of Voting
Disabled persons shall be allowed to be assisted by a
person of his choice in voting in the national or local
elections. The person thus chosen shall prepare the
ballot for the disabled voter inside the voting booth.
The person assisting shall bind himself in a formal
document under oath to fill out the ballot strictly in
accordance with the instructions of the voter and not
to reveal the contents of the ballot prepared by him.
Violation of this provision shall constitute as election
offense. Polling places should be made accessible to
disabled persons during national or local elections.

RA 10366
AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS TO ESTABLISH
PRECINCTS ASSIGNED TO ACCESSIBLE POLLING PLACES EXCLUSIVELY
FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND SENIOR CITIZENS
SEC. 9. Creation of Precincts for Persons with Disabilities and
Senior Citizens. The Commission is hereby authorized to establish
precincts of a nonterritorial nature, exclusively for persons with
disabilities and senior citizens who in their registration records
manifest their intent to avail of their right to a separate precinct
under this section. Pursuant hereto, the Commission shall establish
at least one (1) such precinct, assigned to accessible polling places,
for every voting center. Such precincts shall be provided with
assistive devices as well as the services of experts in assisting
persons with disabilities.