Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ELECTION: INTRODUCTION
AND HISTORY
Chapter 1
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Plebiscite the electoral process by which an
initiative on the Constitution is approved or rejected
by the people; it also the means by which the voters
in affected areas consent or object to the change in
the form of local government.
Initiative the power of the people to propose
amendments to the Constitution or to propose and
enact legislations through an election called for the
purpose.
Referendum the power of the electorate to approve
or reject legislation through an election called for the
purpose.
Recall a mode of removal of a local elective official
by the people before the end of his term of office.
Theory on Suffrage prevailing in the Philippines:
Suffrage is both a right and a privilege. It is a right
because it is the expression of the sovereign will of
the people. It is a privilege because its exercise is
granted not to everybody but to the persons or class
of persons as are most likely to exercise it for the
purpose of the public good.
System of Election Adopted in the Philippines:
Since 1901, the Australian system, first conceived by
Francis Dutton, a member of the Legislature of South
Australia. The distinguishing feature of the system is
STRICT SECRECY IN BALLOTING.
Election Period: Unless otherwise fixed by the
Commission in special cases, the election period
shall commence ninety days before the day of
election and shall end thirty days thereafter (Sec. 9,
Art. IX-C, 1987 Constitution).
Campaign Period:
3. Presidential and Vice Presidential Election 90
days;
4. Election of Members of Congress and Local
Election 45 days; and Barangay Election 15
days
4. Special Election under Art. VIII, Sec. 5,
Subsection (2) of the Constitution 45 days.
Written and Edited by: APAYA, Edrian and DAVID, Jose Angelo. REFERENCES: Relevant laws, jurisprudence and San Beda Law BarOps Memory Aid.
Please notify the author/s concerned for corrections, suggestions and comments.
Jurisdiction
General Rule: The COMELEC sitting en banc does
NOT have the requisite authority to hear and decide
election cases in the first instance. This power
pertains to the divisions of the Commission. Any
decision by the Commission en banc as regards
election cases decided by it in the first instance is null
and void (Abad v. COMELEC)
Exceptions:
1. When what is involved in the case is purely
administrative, and not quasi-judicial in nature;
2. When the required number of votes to reach a
decision, resolution, order or ruling is not
obtained in the division (Garvida v. Sales, Jr.)
3. Where the petitioner invoked the jurisdiction of
the COMELEC en banc, participated in its
proceedings and sought relief therefrom, in which
instance he is estopped to subsequently question
the jurisdiction of the COMELEC en banc
(Ramirez v. COMELEC);
to
Composition:
Chairman
and
Commissioners
Term: 7 years without reappointment
1987 Constitution
Composition:
Chairman
and
Commissioners
Term: 7 years without reappointment
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Case Digest:
Power of COMELEC
Election for the Office of the Representatives was
held. Because of the alleged irregularity in the
canvassing of votes, COMELEC issued a resolution
to reopen the ballot boxes to obtain judicial remedies
under section 163 of the Revised Election Code.
WON the resolution is valid.
The COMELEC has the power to investigate and act
on the propriety or legality of the canvass of election
returns made by the board of canvassers. Cauton vs.
COMELEC)
_
The Congress enacted R.A. 8436 for the Automation
of Election System. The Automated Machines used
during the election did not properly read the votes
casted. COMELEC issued a minute resolution
ordering a manual count.
WON the resolution is valid.
To continue with the automated count would result in
a grossly erroneous count. The resolution merely
reinforces the collective efforts to endow COMELEC
with enough power to hold free, honest, orderly, and
credible elections. (Loong vs. COMELEC)
Judicial Recount
Election was held; one of the candidates filed a
petition to annul the canvass and proclamation due to
alleged irregularity in the canvassing. The COMELEC
issued a resolution annulling the canvass and
proclamation.
The requisites for judicial recount
1. Appearing to the Board of Canvassers that
discrepancy exists.
2. Discrepancy is between the copy submitted
to the Board and another authentic copy
thereof.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
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Registration of voters
Petitioner sought to direct the COMELEC to conduct
a special registration of new voters within 120 days
before the May 14, 2001 General Elections.
WON the petition may be granted.
The exercise of right to suffrage is subject to existing
substantive and procedural requirements. Sec. 8,
R.A. 8189 provides that no registration shall be
conducted during the period within 120 days before a
regular election and 90 days before a special
election. (Akbayan-Youth vs. COMELEC)
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4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
CANDIDATES
Chapter 5
Qualifications
President and Vice- President:
1. Natural-born citizen
2. Registered voter
3. Able to read and write
4. At least 40 years old on the day of the election
5. Resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years
immediately preceding the day of the election.
(Sec.2, Art. VII)
Senators:
1. Natural-born citizen
2. At least 35 yrs. old on the day of the election
3. Able to read & write
4. Registered voter
5. Resident of RP for not less than 2 years
immediately preceding the day of the election
(Sec. 2, Art. VI)
District Representatives:
1.Natural-born citizen
2.At least 25 years old on the day of election
3.Able to read and write
4.Registered voter in the district in which he shall be
elected
5.Resident of the same district for a period of not less
than 1 year Immediately preceding the day of
election. (Sec. 6, Art. VI)
Sectoral Representatives:
1. Natural-born citizen
2. At least 25 years old on the day of election
3. Able to read and write
4. Resident for a period not less than one year
immediately preceding the day of the election
5. Bona fide member of the sector he seeks to
represent
Governor, Vice-governor, Mayor, Vice-mayor,
Punong barangay, Sanggunian (sg) members
1. Citizen of the Philippines;
2. Registered voter in the barangay, municipality, city
or province, or, in the case of a member of the SG
panlalawigan, panlungsod or bayan, the district
where he intends to be elected;
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Senators:
Shall not serve for more than two consecutive terms.
(Sec 4(2), Art. VI)
District Representatives:
1. Shall not serve for more than three consecutive
terms. (Sec. 7 Art. VI);
2. One who has been declared by competent
authority as insane or incompetent;
3. One who has been sentenced by final judgment
for subversion, insurrection, rebellion, or for any
offense for which he has been sentenced to a
penalty of more than 18 months or for a crime
involving moral turpitude, unless given plenary
pardon or granted amnesty. (Sec. 12, BP 881 or
the
Omnibus
Election
Code)
Governor, Vice-governor, Mayor, Vice-mayor,
Punong barangay, Sanggunian (sg) members:
(Sec. 41, R.A. 7160)
1. sentenced by final judgement for an offense
involving moral turpitude or for an offense
punishable by 1 year or more, within 2 years after
serving sentence;
2. removed from office as a result of an
administrative case;
3. convicted by final judgment for violating the oath of
allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines;
4. with dual citizenship;
5. fugitives from justice in criminal and non-political
case here and abroad;
6. permanent residents in a foreign country or those
who have acquired the right to reside abroad and
continue to avail of the same right after the
effectivity of the Local Government Code;
7. insane or feeble-minded
Certificate of Candidacy
A statement of a person seeking to run for a public
office certifying that he announces his candidacy for
the office mentioned and that he is eligible for the
office, the name of the political party to which he
belongs if he belongs to any, and his post-office
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CAMPAIGN, ELECTION
PROPAGANDA, CONTRIBUTIONS
AND EXPENDITURES
Chapter 6
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AUTOMATED ELECTIONS
Chapter 7
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Case Digest:
Propaganda materials
Petitioner entered into formal agreements with certain
establishments to endorse their products and for the
use his name and image. Then, he filed his
Certificate of Candidacy for the position of Senator.
COMELEC ordered the petitioner to remove his
billboards and to cover them from public view.
WON the order of the COMELEC is valid.
By regulating the use of election propaganda
materials, the COMELEC is merely doing its duty
under the law. If the subject billboards will be allowed,
he would have more opportunity to make themselves
known to the electorate, to the disadvantage of other
candidates who do not have the same chance.
(Chavez vs. COMELEC)
Election propaganda
Petitioner prayed that Sec. 12, R.A. 6132 be declared
unconstitutional for it declares unlawful to print and
publish any advertisement, paid comment or paid
article in favor of a candidate unless the names of all
other candidates are also mentioned with equal
prominence.
WON the Law is unconstitutional.The slight limitation
of the freedom of expression of the individual,
whether candidate or not, is only one of the many
devices employed by the law to prevent a clear and
present danger of the perversion and prostitution of
the electoral apparatus and of denial of equal
protection of the laws. (Badoy, Jr. vs. COMELEC)
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