Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

University of the City of Manila

Intramuros, Manila

ELECTION CODE

Section 1:
Title. This code shall be known and cited as The PLM College Student
Council and Supreme Student Council Election Code.
Section 2.
Applicability. The code shall govern the elections of PLM CSC and SSC
officers to the extent appropriate of referendum and plebiscites.
Section 3.
Election and election periods. Election of the Supreme Student council
officers and the College Student Council Officers shall be held every Friday of the
last week of February. The campaign periods for said election shall be four (4) days
to commerce on Monday and to end at midnight of Thursday immediately preceding
Election Day.
The period for filing of candidacy for the election of the SSC Officers and CSC
officers shall commence on Monday and ends at 12:00 noon of Friday of the third
week of February. The announcement of official candidates shall be at 3:00 in the
afternoon of Friday, when the COMELEV conducts an orientation.

The registration of political parties shall be on the second week of February

commencing on Monday and ends at 12:00 noon of Friday.
Proclamation of winners shall be made on the first Monday after the elections.

Section 4.
Obligation to vote. It shall be the right and duty of every bonafide
student of PLM to cast his vote.

The COMELEC shall submit to the Dean of Colleges a list of students who do not cast
their votes. The deans may, upon their discretion, undertake appropriate action
against these students.

Section 5.
Postponement of Election. If whenever the holdings of free, orderly and
honest election should become impossible due to serious causes such as violence,
loss of destruction of election records and other similar causes, as well as failure of
the COMELEC to convene on the specified date as provided for in the constitution
the Commission, shall more propio postpone the election to a date not later than
thirty (30 days) after the cession of the cause.
Section 6.
Availability of the Election Code. A printed copy of this code shall be
provided and be made available by the Commission in order that it may be readily
consulted by one person in need thereof.

ARTICLE II ELIGIBILITY OF CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL PARTIES

Section 7.
Qualification. Candidates for any position in the PLM SSC and CSC
should possess the following qualifications:

a. Except for candidates belonging to the Colleges of Law and Medicine, a

candidate must be in good academic standing with a GWA of 2.5 or above
with no failing or incomplete grades during the past semester immediately
preceding the election. For candidates from the colleges of Law and
Medicine, enrollment in these colleges is sufficient compliance of the
requirement of this section;
b. Must be a regular student and taking the normal semestral load
prescribed in the curriculum;
c. Must have been a student of the university for one semester prior to the
time of the election;
d. Must not have been guilty of any disciplinary action or any act contrary to
law as evaluated by the Dean of Office of Student Affairs;
e. Must not be and officer of any PLM organization
Section 8.
Certificate of Candidacy. No person shall be eligible for any office
unless the files are sworn certificate of candidacy within the period fixed herein.
A person who has filed a certificate of candidacy may prior to the election
withdraw the same by submitting within three (3) days before the announcement of
the official candidates a written declaration of withdrawal. A political from which the
withdrawing partly belongs may substitute another candidate us in place of the
former.

No person shall be eligible for any more than one office to be fled in the same
election and if he files his certificates of candidacy for more than one office, he shall
not be eligible for any of them.

The candidate shall certify in the certificate that he intends to be a candidate for a
particular office and that he has of the qualifications required under the PLM SSC
and CSC constitution.
Section 9.
Candidates for the same office with the same name and surname.
When there are two or more candidates for an office with the same name and
surname, each candidate upon being made aware of such fact that slate his
paternal and maternal name or surname, except for the incumbent who may
continue to use the name and surname stated in his certificate of candidacy when
he was elected.
Section 10. Names and alases. Pseudonyms or aliases shall be entertained by the
commission provided that it is slated in the certificate of candidacy. Names other
than those submitted to the Commission shall not be considered.
Section 11. Accreditation of New Electoral Parties. The commission shall accredit
new parties provided that they submit a written declaration slating their name, their
objectives and a complete slate of candidates. Submission of these requirements
must be made within the period prescribed by the code. Electoral parties accredited
by the commission in the past elections need not submit a new application of
accreditation.
Section 12. Registration of Existing Electoral Parties. Parties already accredited in
the past elections are required to register with the commission within the period
prescribed by this code. They should submit to the commission the official logo and
complete name of the party, the names of its Chairman, Campaign Manager and
Secretary.
ARTICLE III CAMPAIGN ELECTION PROPAGANDA

Section 13. Campaigns Outside Campaign Period. Election campaign of any form of
partisan electoral activity outside the campaign period prescribed by this Code is
prohibited. Any candidate or party found violating this provision shall be penalized
with a 10% deduction from the total votes of each party candidate.

Section 14. Lawful Election Propaganda. Lawful election propaganda shall include:
a. Pamphlets, leaflets, card or other printed materials ;

b. Handwritten or printed letters urging voters to vote for a particular

candidate of party ;
c. Cloth, paper, cardboard posters, the size of which must not exceed that of
cartolina ;
d. One streamer for each party (alliance) or independent candidate the size
of which must not exceed 2 feet by 10 feet. Streamers are to be set-up
only within the period and sites prescribed by the Commission. The phrase
vote for must be included in all banners and streamers.
Section 15. Any party of candidate found violating the requirements prescribed by
the next preceding section shall be subjected to a 10% deduction in the total
number of votes a party or candidate games in the elections.

Section 16. Prohibited Election Propaganda. The use of election propaganda

materials considered destructive to school properly such as candies, waxes, glue,
staple wires and the likes are prohibited. Likewise, no campaign materials may be
posted inside the classrooms. The Commission may order the seizure and
confiscation of such prohibited materials.

Section 17. Classroom Campaigns. Candidates may be allowed to conduct a room

to room campaign during the campaign period. Such classroom campaign must
have the consent of professors .instructors in charge of class.

Section 18. Removal, destruction of lawful propaganda. It shall be unlawful for any
person during the campaign period to remove, destroy or in any manner deface,
tamper or prevent the distribution of lawful election propaganda. Any voter found
violating this section shall not be allowed to vote. In case the offender is candidate,
he shall be disqualified to seek any elective office.
Distributing campaign materials or the wearing if T-shirts, caps and the like with
names of candidates or any political party on Election Day within 30 meters from
the polling place is prohibited. However, sample ballots which do not contain the
phrase VOTE FOR may be allowed. Any voter found violating the section shall not
be allowed to vote or in case he has voted, the same shall be invalidated. In case
the offender is a candidate, he shall be disqualified to seek any elective office.

All campaign materials must be removed by the candidates before the election day.
Any candidate or party found violating this requirement shall be penalized with a
10% deduction of its total vote.

ARTICLE IV ELECTION OFFENSES

Section 19. The following shall be considered as election offenses:

a. Giving money or other material consideration to influence, induce or
corrupt the voters or officials performing electoral functions.
b. Committed case, acts of violence in pursuing a candidacy;

In either case, the candidate found guilty of committing these offenses shall be
disqualified from pursuing his candidacy or if elected, shall not be allowed to
assume office.

ARTICLE V CHALLENGE / PROTEST

Section 20. Protest; form; period. All electoral protest must be made in writing and
attested by at least two (2) witnesses. The protest must contain the ground for such
protest and a detailed narration of the circumstances surrounding such protest. The
period for filing the protest shall be within 24 hours from the time of violation,
infraction or illegal act has been allegedly committed. No protest/ challenge shall be
entertained by the Commission beyond the 24 hours period prescribes by this Code/

Section 21. Protest on Eligibility and Qualification of Candidates. All protest related
to the eligibility and qualification of the candidates must be filed within three days
from the day the announcement of official candidates and mode. No protest shall be
heard beyond the three-day period prescribed by this Code.

Section 22. Hearing.

Any candidate against whole protest or challenged is
directed shall be notified of the charges against him within 24 hours from the time
he is informed of the charges against him. Upon submission of the answer, the case
shall be deemed submitted for resolution unless the Commission finds it necessary
to conduct a hearing, in which case a hearing may be set before promulgation of
the decision. In any case, the decision of the Commission is final.

ARTICLE VI COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS

Section 23. Composition of the Commission on Elections. The Commission shall be

composed of eight (8) representing the eight colleges in the University duly
appointed by their respective Deans. The members shall elect among themselves
their Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary.

Section 24. Commission Advisers. Two (2) faculty members elected by the
Commission and the director of Student Discipline, welfare and Alumni shall
compose the COMELEC Board of Advisers.

Section 25. Creation of the COMELEC. One week before February 1, the Office of
Student Affairs shall
Notify the respective Deans of the different colleges as to their recommendation for
the post of COMELEC Commissioners.

Section 26. Qualification of COMELEC Commisioners. Student members appointed

as commissioners must be in good academic standing during the past two
semesters immediately preceding the election day.

Section 27. The term of office of all commissioners including their faculty advisers
shall be one year from February 1.

Section 28. Student members of the Commission are disqualified from seeking any
position in PLM SSC and CSC.

Section 29. The Commission shall have the following power, duties, and functions:
a. To receive and authenticate candidate of candidacy ;
b. To accredit and discredit political parties;
c. To promulgate, embrace and administer rules relative to the over-all
supervision and conduct of election;
d. To decide cases pertaining to the qualifications of candidates
e. To announce to the students the voting system and names of the official
candidates of the PLM SSC and CSC not less than one-week prior to the
election;

f.

To make known the results and proclaim the winners in the elections
immediately after canvassing the votes;
g. To settle and decide on at election controversies.
Section 30. In case of Electoral irregularities involving any member of the
Commission, the Chairman shall appoint replacement in place of the * member, the
person so appointed must possess all qualifications for the said position.

Section 31. The Commission shall convene on the first day of February each year.

ARTICLE VII CITIZEN ELECTION COMMITTEE

Section 32. Appointment. The Commission through its duly authorized

representatives shall request the College Deans to appoint at least ten (10) days
before Election Day, six (6) students to compose the Citizens Election Committee of
their respective colleges. The committee shall be composed of three (3) poll clerks
and three
(3) canvassers. The members of the Committee shall decide among
themselves who shall act as Chairman. Members of the Committee shall be excused
from their classes when performing their function prescribed by this code.

Section 33.
Powers and Duties. The Citizens Elections Committee shall have
the following powers and duties:
a. Conduct the voting and counting of votes in their respective colleges;
b. Act as deputies of the commission in the supervision and control of the
election in their colleges;
c. Performs such other functions as may be assigned by the commission.
Section 34. Substitution; replacement of members. A member of the Committee
can be replaced or substitute only when the former is incapacitated to perform the
duties assigned to him due to absence, sickness and other void reasons. The
Commission shall name a replacement in his place.
Section 35.
Prohibition to Engage in Political Activity. No member of the
Committee is allowed to take part in any electoral activity except to discharge their
duties and to exercise their right to vote.

ARTICLE VIII WATCHERS

Section 36.
Official Watchers ; Qualifications. All accredited parties and
independent candidates are entitled to place one watcher in each voting centers.
Political parties may also appoint alternative who may discharge the rights of a
watcher in case the regular watcher is unable to discharge his functions. No person
shall be appointed as watcher unless:
a. he is a qualified voter;
b. he is of good moral character and shall not have been convicted of any
election offenses or of any other crime as certified by the Office of Student
Affairs;
c. He is not related within the second civil degree of consanguinity to any
member of the Citizens Election Committee of the voting center where he
is a watcher.
Section 37. Commission may authorize observers. The commission may authorize
civic religious and academic organization to place observers in voting centers.
Section 38. Duties and Power of Watchers. Upon entering the voting center, the
watcher shall present to the Chairman of the Citizens Election Committee his
appointment signed by the candidate or party he represents and a certification from
the Office of Student Affairs as prescribed by the preceding section. A watcher shall
have the following powers;
a. To witness the proceedings in the voting centers;
b. To record what he may see or hear;
c. To Re a protest for any irregularity which he believed has been committed
by the committee.
d. To read the ballots offer they shall have been read by the Chairman of the
Committee;
e. To read the election returns after they have been completed and signed by
the members of the committee.
However, in no case shall a watcher be allowed to touch the ballots of the election
returns. A watcher is also prohibited from talking to any member of the Committee.

ARTICLE IX CASTING OF VOTES

Section 39. Voting Hours. Election shall commence at 9:00 in the morning and shall
end at 7:00 at the same day in voting centers designated by the commission except
when there are voters present within a radius of 30 meters from any voting center,
in which case the election may continue but only to allow said voters to cast their
votes. The poll clerks shall without delay prepare a list of said voters consecutively
numbered.

Section 40. Preliminaries of Voting. The Citizen Election Committee shall meet at
the voting center designated by the Commission at 8:00 in the morning of Election
Day and shall have the list of voters official ballots and other necessary materials.

Immediately thereafter, the committee shall open the ballot box, empty its contents
and exhibits the same in full view of those present. The Chairman shall in forthwith
show to the public and watchers present the official ballots received from the
Commission showing that the ballots have not been filled. Te committee shall record
such fact in the minutes.

Section 41. Procedure for Voting. A voter goes to the designated polling place as
announced in the bulletin boards. To vote, student must present his identification
card, and his student number in the voters registry list. After due verification, the
poll official assigned therein will hand him ballot. A voter who has been handed a
ballot shall not be allowed to go out of the voting center unit he has dropped his
ballot in the ballot box.

Section 42. Spoiled ballots. If a voter shall spoil or deface a ballot in such a way
that it cannot be lawfully used, he shall surrender it folded to the Chairman who
shall note in the corresponding space in the voting record that the ballot is spoiled.
The voter shall then be entitles to another ballot which the Chairman shall give him
after announcing the number of the second ballot and recording said number in the
corresponding space in the voting record. However, no voter shall charge his ballot
more than twice.

ARTICLE X COUNTING OF VOTES

Section 43. Counting and Resumption of Counting. As soon as the voting is

finished, the election committee shall publicly count in the voting centers or places
designated by the Commission. Counting shall start immediately offer the last ballot
had been cast which shall be continued until the last ballot.

Section 44. Manner of Counting Votes. The counting of votes shall be more in the
following manner:

a. The committee shall unfold the ballot and form separate plies of one
hundred ballots each;
b. The chairman of the committee shall take the ballots of the first pile one
by one and read the names of the candidates voted in the order in which
theey appear theron;
c. The poll canvasser shall record on the election returns and the tally board
or sheet each vote as the names voted for each office are read. The exofficio aide that will see to it that the shairman reads the vote as written
on the ballot;
d. After finishing the first pile of ballots, the committee shall determine the
total number of votes recorded for each candidate, the sum being noted
on the tally board/ sheet and on the election returns;
e. In the cases of discrepancy, such recount as may be necessary shall be
made;
f. After all the ballots have been read, the committee shall sum up the total
recorded both on the tally board/ sheet and on the election returns. It shall
then be placed the counted ballots in an envelope prepared for the
purpose which shall be closed, signed and deposited in the compartment
for valid ballots. The tally board/sheet shall be kept in the compartment
for valid ballots.
Section 45. Rules for the Appreciation of Ballots. In the reading and appreciation of
ballots. The committee shall observe the following rules:
a. Where only the first name of the candidate or only his surname is written,
the vote for such candidate is valid. If there is not other candidate with the
came first name or surname fort he same office.
b. When on the ballot is written a single word which is the first name of the
candidate and which is the surname of his opponent, the vote shall be
counted in favor of the latter.
c. When two words are written on the ballot,, one of which is the first name
of a candidate and the other is the surname of his opponent , the vote
shall be counted for either.
d. A name or surname incorrectly written which when read had a sound
similar to the name or surname of a candidate which correctly written
shall be counted in his favor.
e. When there is a space in the ballot, there appears a name of a candidate
that is erased and another clearly written , the vote is valid for the latter.
f. When an erroneous initial of the first name accompanies the correct
surname of the candidate , it shall not annul the vote in favor of the
candidate provided that not other candidate carries the same surname
otherwise the vote shall be annulled.
g. When an erroneous initial of the surname accompanies the correct first
name of a candidate , it shall be counted in favor of the candidate
provided that no other candidate carries the same first name otherwise,
the voter shall be annulled.

h. The use of nickname and appellation of affection and friendship if

accompanied by the first name or surname of the candidate does not
annul such vote. If the nickname used is unaccompanied by the name or
surname of a candidate and it is the one written in his
application for candidacy, submitted to the Commission on Elections, the
same shall not be annulled provided no other candidates beard the same
nickname otherwise it shall be annulled.
Section 46.
Alteration and Correction in the Election Returns.
Any correction or alternative mode in the election returns by the
committee before the announcement of the results of the election in the
voting center shall ne duly initiated by all members thereof.
Section 47.
Vote required. A majority vote of all members of
the committee shall be necessary to render a decision.
Section 48.
Canvass Proclamation and Oath Taking of Winners.
Within two (2) days after the election of officers, the Commission shall
meet in session and on the basis of the election returns, proclaim the
candidates who obtained the majority of votes for that particular position.
Majority of votes means 50% +1 of the entire population of the Univeristy.
However, if the total number of votes cost fall short of the majority , resort
shall be made to the plurality of the proclaiming winner.
The proclaimed winners that shall be sworn into office not later than ten
(10) days with the presence of the President of the University of his
representative.
Section 49.
Suspension and Annulment of Proclamation . The
Commission shall be the sole judge of all the proclamation controversies
and on its decisions, orders, or rulings shall be final and executor. It may
suspend or annul the proclamation of any candidate elect upon written
protest and hearing as may be provided by this Code.
Any protest regarding election results must be filled within 24 hours from
the last hour of the canvassing of the election returns. Any protest that
may delay the proclamation of official winners shall be subjected to a
penalty of P300.00 pesos.
Section 50.
Election insulting in a lie. Whenever it shall appear
form the canvass that two or more candidates have received equal and
consequently the highest number of votes, or in cases where two or more
candidates received the same number of votes for the last place in the
required number of positions to be elected, the commission after
recording this fact in its minutes, shall by resolution, upon three (3) days

notice to all tied candidates hold special public meetings at which the
Commission shall proceed to the drawing of lots of the candidate who may
be favored the luck. The candidate so proclaimed shall have the right to
assume office in the same manner as of he had been elected by plurality
vote. The Commission shall forthwith make a certificate stating the name
of the candidates who had been favored by luck and his proclamation on
the basis thereof.
Section 51.
Final Provision. This Election Code, adopted by the
1998-99 Commission members shall govern all student elections in the
PLM unless amended, revised of repeated by the commission of
succeeding COMELEC Commissioners. This code shall take effect upon its
approval.