INTRODUCTION Nature of the Right to Suffrage The dictionary defines elections as "a choosing by vote", while suffrage as "a

vote or voting"; "the right to vote", which make both terms somewhat synonymous. Suffrage is an important political right appertaining to citizenship. Each individual ualified to vote is a particle of popular sovereignty. !Santos vs. Paredes, ".#. $o. %&'() !Sup. *t+; Moya vs. Del Fierro, )' ,hil. -''+ The right of suffrage is predicated upon the theory that the people who bear the burden of government should share in the privilege of choosing the officials of that government. This is the theory of a representative form of government. !Macolor vs. Amores, ".#. $o. ./01(), $ov. &, -'&1+ The right to vote is a political right or privilege, to be given or withheld at the e2ercise of the lawmaking power of the sovereignty. 3t is not a natural right of the citizen, but a franchise dependent upon law, which it must be conferred to permit its e2ercise. 3t can emanate only from the people, either in their sovereign statement of the organic law or through legislative enactment which they have authorized. 3t is not included among the rights of property or of person. $either is it an absolute un ualified right, but is altogether conventional. 4hen once granted, it may be taken away by the e2ercise of sovereign power, and if taken away no vested right is violated or bill of attainder passed. 5or e2ample, those to whom the right of suffrage is guaranteed by the constitution cannot be deprived of it by any act of the legislature. !White vs. Multnomab County, -1 (.1-6+ The fundamental principle of suffrage consists of two things7 first // that every man entitled to vote may vote; second, that his vote may be sent forward and counted and so he may e2ercise his part of sovereignty in common with his fellow/citizen. !,aine, Law of Election, p. 8+ The ob9ect of suffrage is the continuity of government and the preservation and perpetuation of its benefits. The right to vote is not of necessity connected with citizenship. The rights of the citizen are civil rights, such as liberty of person and of conscience, the right to ac uire and possess property, all of which are distinguishable from the political privilege. !:c*rary, ;m. .aw of Election, %th Ed., p. 1+ ;nd finally, our *onstitution provides7 "The ,hilippines is a democratic and republican State. Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them." !;rt. 33, Sec. -,Declaration of Princi les, -'06 *onstitution+. The officers are mere agents and not rulers of the people, where no one man or set of men has a proprietary or contractual right to an office, but where every officer accepts office pursuant to the provisions of the law and hold the office as a trust for the people whom he represents. !Corne!o vs. "abriel and Prov. #oard of $i%al, %- ,hil. -00+

http7<<electionspinoy.blogspot.com<8(('<('<nature/of/right/of/suffrage.html Suffrage as conferred by the constitutional provision is not a natural right of the citizens, but a political right intended to enable them to participate in the process of government to assure it derives its powers from the consent of the governed. !,ungutan vs. ;bubakar, ./11&%-, 8( =une -'68+". >oth international and domestic laws protect and guarantee its effective e2ercise by the people so that their sovereign will can be manifested. Article 21 Universal Declaration of Human Rights

-. Everyone has the ri&ht to ta'e art in the &overnment of his country( directly or throu&h freely chosen re resentatives. 8. Everyone has the ri&ht of e)ual access to ublic service in his country. 1. *he will of the eo le shall be the basis of the authority of &overnment+ this will shall be e, ressed in eriodic and &enuine elections which shall be by universal and e)ual suffra&e and shall be held by secret vote or by e)uivalent free votin& rocedures. Article 25 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights -Every citi%en shall have the ri&ht and the o ortunity( without any of the

distinctions mentioned in Article . without unreasonable restrictions+ a. *o ta'e art in the conduct of ublic affairs( directly or throu&h freely choose re resentatives+

b. *o vote and to be elected at &enuine eriodic elections which shall be by universal and e)ual suffra&e and shall be held by secret ballot( &uaranteein& the free e, ression of the will of the electors+ c. *o have access( on &eneral terms of e)uality( to ublic service in his country./

Article V, uffrage, Phili!!ine Constitution Sec. 1. Suffra&e may be e,ercised by all citi%ens of the Phili ines not otherwise )ualified by law( who are at least ei&hteen years of a&e and who shall have resided in the Phili ines for at least one year and in the lace wherein they ur ose to vote for at least si, months immediately recedin& the election. 0o literacy( ro erty( or other substantive re)uirement shall be im osed on the e,ercise of suffra&e. Sec. 2. *he Con&ress shall rovide a system for securin& the secrecy and sanctity of the ballot as well as a system for absentee votin& by )ualified Fili inos abroad. *he Con&ress shall also desi&n a rocedure for the disabled and the 1lliterates to vote without the assistance of other ersons. 2ntil then( they shall be allowed to vote under e,istin& laws and such rules as the Commission on Elections may romul&ate to rotect the secrecy of the ballot. 3333333333333333333333 4uman $i&hts and Election( a 4andboo' on the Le&al( *echnical and 4uman $i&hts As ect of Elections( Professional *rainin& Series 0o. .( 2nited 0ation Centre for 4uman $i&hts( "eneva( .5 C4$P Position Pa er on 4# 0o. 6789 entitled /An Act Amendin& Section .69 of #atasan Pambansa #ilan& 889( :therwise ;nown as the Election Code of the Phili ines ( as amended and for other ur oses./ htt <==www.chr.&ov. h=MA>0?.@PA"ES=about?.@hr=advisories= df3files=abthr@5A. df Voter Registration in the Philippine ?oter registration in the ,hilippines is the process of filing an application to have a voter@s record at the *ommission on Election in a specific date and designated places set by the *omelec. ;ny 5ilipino citizen who is at least -0 years of age, a resident of the ,hilippines for at least one year, and in the place where he intends to vote for at least si2 months immediately preceding the election can

file application for registration. There are two types of voter registration7 *omputerized ?oter@s .ist !*?.+ electronic process and the ?oters #egistration #ecord !?##+ manual one. "ualifications for Registration Aou may register in the country if you have complied with the following re uirements7 -.Aou must be a citizen of the #epublic of the ,hilippine. 8.Aou are a resident of the place where you intend to register for at least si2 months. 1.you must be at least -0 years of age on or before the election date %.Aou have not been ad9udged as mentally incapable by a court or by competent authority. &.Aou are ad9udicated as free from committing any disloyalty liaising against the government, such as rebellion or sedition. Registration Process To become a registered voter, you must personally submit all the re uired documents. Aou must yield to your Election officer a fully accomplished #egistration form !*E5/-;+ which you can get either from the Bffice of Election Bfficer !BEB+ or downloaded from the commission website. ;long with your form, you must also present a photocopy of any valid 3C which is inclusive of your photo, autograph and home address. $one of the three ualifications must be deficient. 4ait until all your documents are verified by the assigned election officer. ;fter all your documents are authenticated, you can proceed to the ne2t step, which is the taking of your biometrics, which includes your signature, thumbmark and picture. The last step is for you to get your acknowledgment receipt which you can present upon getting your ?oterDs 3C. #egistration is open every :onday to 5riday !including holidays+ from 0am to &pm. Valid ID "ualification Deficienc# ;n 3C which is deficient of any of the given ualifications must get either a $ational >ureau of 3nvestigation !$>3+ or ,olice clearance from their local *ity <:unicipal Eall. 3f by any chance, none of the potential 3C is owned by an individual, he or she can be identified under oath by any registered voter of the same precinct or by any of his relatives who must also be an authorized voter. Dou$le Registration There are cases when an individual transfers residence then fails to file an application for cancellation or transfer. This is an electoral case called double<multiple registration, which also calls as flyin& voter. 4hether it is deliberate or not, the individual who is found guilty shall be punishable with

imprisonment of one to si2 years. htt <==en.wi'i edia.or&=wi'i=Boter3re&istration3in3the3Phili ines

^Mayen Jaymalin (2011-05-02). Comelec resumes voter registration. The Philippine Star, retrieved 16 Octo er 2011

C%&'('C Registration for )e* Voters The *ommission on Elections has announced that it will still be accepting applications for voter registration until Bctober 1-, 8(-8. Those who has not reached the re uired voting age or period of residence on the day of registration but will possess such ualifications on or before the :ay -1, 8(-1 !for e2ample, you were born in ;pril -''&+ elections may register as a voter not earlier than :ay -8, 8(-8. ;pplicants should bring with them a copy of their birth certificate and one valid 3C for their registration. *B:E.E* offices are open :onday to Saturdays !including holidays+, 07(( ;: to &7(( ,:. List of valid identification C>DD cards( accordin& to C:MELEC7 -. *urrent employeeDs identification card !3C+, with the signature of the employer or authorized representative; 8. ,ostal 3C; 1. StudentDs 3C or library card, signed by the school authority; %. Senior *itizenDs 3C; &. CriverDs license; ). $>3<,$, clearance; 6. ,assport; 0. SSS<"S3S 3C; '. 3ntegrated >ar of the ,hilippine !3>,+ 3C; -(. .icense issued by the ,rofessional #egulatory *ommission !,#*+ and; --. ;ny other valid 3C. The 3C should bear the applicantDs photo, signature, and complete address. The poll body has likewise emphasized that community ta2 certificates !cedulas+ and other certifications and 3Cs issued by barangay officials will not be honored. *B:E.E* also indicated that applications for correction of entries, change of name, and transfer of registration records will likewise be accepted. ;ccording to section & of *B:E.E* resolution '-%' promulgated last year, any 5ilipino citizen who has met the following re uirements is eligible to vote7

-. ;t least eighteen !-0+ years of age; 8. ; resident of the ,hilippines for at least one !-+ year and in the place wherein he proposes to vote, for at least si2 !)+ months immediately preceding the election; and 1. $ot otherwise dis ualified by law. ;n $SB birth certificate may be needed as authentic proof of a voter@s identity.