One clear manifestation that a country is truly FREE or its citizens are enjoying FREEDOM is the EXERCISE OF THE RIGHT TO SUFFRAGE.
Definition: suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise is the right to vote in public, political elections (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). The right to run for office is sometimes called candidate eligibility, and the combination of both rights is sometimes called full suffrage.
Who should win in an election?
"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. (Pungutan vs. Abubakar, L-33541, 20 June
1972)" [1] . Both international and domestic laws protect and guarantee its effective exercise by the
people so that their sovereign will can be manifested.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 21
1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or
through freely chosen representatives.
2. Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
3. 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 without unreasonable restrictions;
a. To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely
choose representatives;
b. 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;
c. To have access, on general terms of equality, to public
service in his country."
Article V, Suffrage, Philippine Constitution
."Sec. 1. Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not
otherwise qualified 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 purpose 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.
Sec. 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.
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."
Definition: suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise is the right to vote in public, political elections (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). The right to run for office is sometimes called candidate eligibility, and the combination of both rights is sometimes called full suffrage.
Who should win in an election?
"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. (Pungutan vs. Abubakar, L-33541, 20 June
1972)" [1] . Both international and domestic laws protect and guarantee its effective exercise by the
people so that their sovereign will can be manifested.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 21
1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or
through freely chosen representatives.
2. Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
3. 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 without unreasonable restrictions;
a. To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely
choose representatives;
b. 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;
c. To have access, on general terms of equality, to public
service in his country."
Article V, Suffrage, Philippine Constitution
."Sec. 1. Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not
otherwise qualified 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 purpose 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.
Sec. 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.
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."
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