Pol Gov LessoN 10

The Definition
and Nature of
Elections
Definition of terms
Suffrage - The right to vote
Vote - a formal indication of a choice between two or more
candidates or courses of action, expressed typically through a
ballot or a show of hands or by voice.
Polls - A record of the number of votes cast in an election.
Plebiscite - The direct vote of all members of an electorate on
an important public question such as a change in the
constitution
Definition of terms
Referendum - A general vote by the electorate on a single
political question which has been referred to them for a direct
decision.
Smartmatic – is a private multinational company that provides
technical services for the conduct of automated elections.
PCOS - Stand for Precinct Count Optical Scanner a machine
used to read the votes casts by the voters through a ballot made
from thermal paper.
Definition of terms
General election- A regular electoral practice in which
candidates for national and local elections are elected at large
by all the registered voters.
Popular vote - An act of voting by the general electorate in a
particular politico-geographical space
The Election
An election is a formal group decision-making process by
which a population chooses an individual or multiple
individuals to hold public office.
Elections have been the usual mechanism by which
modern representative democracy has operated since the
17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature,
sometimes in the executive and judiciary, and for
regional and local government. This process is also used
in many other private and business organizations,
from clubs to voluntary associations and corporations.
Elections in the
Philippines
Elections in the Philippines are composed the national and
local elections. The president, vice-president, the senators
and some members of the House of Representatives
specifically the Party-List Representatives are elected at
large by the majority of the electorates from the entire
country. The other members of the House of Representatives
are elected by the district which they represent in the
national legislature.
Governors, city mayors, municipal mayors, and members of
the local legislative bodies (Provincial Board, Sangguniang
Panlungsod and Sangguniang
Pambayan) are elected in the local elections. There are also
separate elections for the Barangay Councils, Sangguniang
Kabataan and for the officials of the Bangsamoro
Administrative Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The president is elected for a term of 6 years and
is prohibit by the constitution to serve as such for
more than one term. The vice-president is likewise
elected for a term of 2 years but eligible for one
reelection in the same office.
Senators serve for a term of 6 years and are not allowed by the
constitution to serve for more than two consecutive terms. Half
of the members of the Senate are elected every 3 years or
during the mid-term elections but like the other members will
also serve a 6 year-term. Members of the House of
Representatives serve for a term of 3 years and not eligible to
serve for more than 3 consecutive terms. Local officials are
also elected for a term of 3 years and are not eligible to serve
for more than three consecutive terms.
The Right of
Suffrage
The human right to vote is embodied in three instruments:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR); the

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and in
the 1987 Philippine Constitution. The Philippines is
governed by these three documents which similarly mandate
universality of the right; equality in access to public service;
and secrecy of votes.
Qualifications and Disqualifications
of a Voter
All citizens of the Philippines, eighteen years of age or over, and
residents of the Philippines for one year and for at least six
months in the city or municipality wherein he/she proposes to
vote immediately preceding the election are qualified to vote.
The following shall be disqualified from voting:
a. Any person who has been sentenced by final judgment to suffer
imprisonment for
not less than one year. However, he/ she may reacquire the right
to vote upon
expiration of five years after service of sentence.
b. Any person who has been adjudged by final judgment by
competent court or tribunal of having committed any crime
involving disloyalty to the duly constituted government such as
rebellion, sedition, violation of the anti-subversion and firearms
laws, or any crime against national security, unless restored to
his/her full civil and political rights in accordance with law:
Provided, That he/she shall regain his right to vote automatically
upon expiration of five years after service of sentence.
c. Insane or incompetent persons as declared by competent
authority.
In addition, RA 9189 or the Overseas Absentee Voting Law
entitles all Filipino citizens overseas, not otherwise disqualified
by law, and immigrants and permanent residents with affidavit of
intent to resume residence in the Philippines, to vote for elective
positions on the national level: President; Vice-President;
Senators; and Party-List Representatives.

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The Definition

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR); the

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