Disqualified Voters (Art. V)

1. Any person who has been sentenced by final judgment to suffer imprisonment for not less than one year, such disability not having been removed by plenary pardon or granted amnesty. But such person shall automatically reacquire the right to vote upon expiration of five years after service of sentence.

2. Any person who has been adjudged by final judgment by competent court of having committed any crime involving disloyalty to the duly constituted government such as rebellion, sedition, violation of anti-subversion and firearms law, or any crime against national security, unless restored to his full civil and political rights in accordance with law. Such person shall likewise automatically regain his right to vote upon expiration of five years after service of sentence.

3. Insane or incompetent persons as declared by competent courts.

Qualifications of Filipino Voters (Art. V)

1. a citizen of the Philippines;

2. not otherwise disqualified by law;

3. at least eighteen years of age; and

4. Have resided in the Philippines for at least one (1) year and in the place he proposes to vote for at least six months preceding the election.

Forms of Suffrage (Art. V)

1. Election – the means by which the people choose their officials for definite and fixed period and to whom they entrust the exercise of powers of government.

2. Plebiscite – It refers to a vote of the people expressing their choice for or against a proposed law or enactment submitted to them.

3. Referendum – It is the submission of a law or part thereof passed by legislative body to the voting citizens of a country for ratification or rejection.

4. Initiative – the process whereby the people directly propose and enact laws or amendments to the Constitution.

5. Recall – It is a method by which a public officer may be removed from office during his tenure or before the expiration of his term by a vote of the people.

Suffrage (Art. V)

Suffrage is the right and obligation to vote of qualified citizens in the election of certain national and local government and in the decision of public questions submitted to the people.

Kinds of Philippine Citizenship (Art. IV)

1. Natural Born – those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship.

2. Naturalized – those who are non-filipino citizens from birth but who later acquired Filipino citizenship through a judgment of the court, an act of congress, or an administrative proceedings.

Who are citizens of the Philippines (Art. IV)

1. Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of the 1986 Constitution;

2. Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens are citizens of the Philippines;

3. Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority; and

4. Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.

Methods of Acquiring Citizenship (Art. IV)

1. Involuntary Method – acquired because of blood relationship or place of birth.

a. Jus sanguinis principle – Blood relationship is the basis for the acquisition of citizenship.

b. Jus soli principle – Place of birth serves as the basis for the acquisition of citizenship.

2. Voluntary Method – acquired through naturalization, which is an act of formally adopting an alien into a political body and vesting him rights and privileges of citizenship.