ELECTION CODE

of the
UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS
SUPREME STUDENT COUNCIL
Be with enacted by the Supreme Student Parliament in session assembled November 8, 2014:

ARTICLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Title. This Code shall be known and cited as the Election Code of the University of
San Carlos Supreme Student Council.
SECTION 2. Applicability. This Code shall govern all elections of officers and, to the extent, all
referenda and plebiscites of the Supreme Student Council.
SECTION 3. Rights to Vote. It shall be the right of a bona fide student of the University of San
Carlos to cast his/her vote. The right to vote is also a right not to vote.
SECTION 4. Objectives. The objectives of the code shall be:
a. To institute fundamental election procedures, guidelines, and regulations from the filing
of certificates of candidacy to the settlement of post-election audit (of votes) and protests;
b. To regulate the conduct of electoral activities and expenses, insuring clarification of election
issues and absence of anomalies and unfairness, and impose justifiable penalties to violations;
c. To define the qualifications of candidates, election parties and voters;
d. To demarcate the formation, membership, and responsibilities of the University Student
COMELEC;
SECTION 5. Definition of Terms. For the purpose of this Code, the following terms shall
be defined as follows:
a. University of San Carlos Supreme Student Council (USC-SSC)- This shall refer to the duly
constituted central student council of the whole University of San Carlos excluding the
elementary and high school levels.
b. USC SSC Elections This shall refer to elections for all positions in the USC
SSC, namely the President, Vice President, and 21 Councilors elected at large.
c. COMELEC This shall refer to the USC SSC Commission on Elections.
d. Candidate- This shall refer to any person aspiring or seeking an elective public office, who
has filed a certificate of candidacy by himself independently through an accredited political
party, or coalition of parties.
e. Political Party Political party or party when used in this Code, means an organized
group of persons pursuing the same ideology, political ideas or platforms of government and
includes its branches and divisions. To acquire juridical personality, qualify it for
subsequent accreditation, and to entitle it to the rights and privileges herein granted to
political parties, a political party shall first be duly registered to the COMELEC.
f. Mudslinging- Unscrupulous criticisms that attack the personality of the candidate or the party.
g. Personality Assasinations- Deliberate process of destroying the credibility and reputation of a
person, institution, social group or nation employing methods such as false accusations,
1
planting and fostering rumors and manipulating information.
1

Rojas, et al (2012). Ready, Aim, Fire! Character Assassination in Cuba. Miami: Eriginal Books. p. 12.
ISBN 978-1-61370-974-0.

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h. Libelous speeches- Speech intended to publicly and maliciously imputate a crime, or of a vice or
defect, real or imaginary, or any act, omission, condition, status, or circumstance tending to
cause the dishonor, discredit, or contempt of a natural or juridical person, or to blacken the
2
memory of one who is dead.
i. Social media Refers to the means of interactions among people in which they create, share,
and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. It differentiates
from traditional/industrial media in many aspects such as quality, reach, frequency, usability,
immediacy, and permanence.
j. Election gimmickry- It is a trick or device intended to attract attention and publicity related in
any way to the election.

ARTICLE II. THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS

SECTION 1. Composition of COMELEC.- There shall be a Comelec composed of the Chairperson,
Commissioner-at-large, seven Collegiate Council Commissioners (CCC) who shall also take
committee roles as well as a Secretary, Finance Commissioner, and Audit Commissioner.
SECTION 2. Appointments of the Members of the COMELEC. The Chairperson shall be
appointed by the President of the USC SSC and approved by the Commission on Appointments. The
Commissioner-at-large shall be appointed by the Comelec Chairperson.
In addition, the Comelec Chairperson may appoint a Secretary, Finance Commissioner, and
an independent Audit Commissioner.
SECTION 3. Powers and Functions of the COMELEC. In addition to the powers and functions
conferred upon it by the Constitution, The Comelec shall have exclusive charge of the enforcement
and administration of all laws relative to the conduct of elections for the purpose of ensuring free,
orderly, and honest elections, and shall:
a. Promulgate rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this Code which Comelec is
required to enforce and administer such as accrediting political parties and processing
certificates of candidacies, and decide and serve those involving the right to vote,
administrative questions conducting elections, including the determination and location of the
polling places;
b. Conduct hearings on controversies pending before it and disqualify candidates and parties
failing to satisfy requirements and those of which found guilty violating election rules and
procedures;
c. Require the payment of legal fees and collect the same in payment of any business done in
Comelec, at rates that it may provide and fix in its rules and regulations;
d. Summon the parties to a controversy pending before it and take testimony in any investigation
or hearing before it with the chairman of the legal committee. Any controversy submitted to
Comelec shall, after compliance with the requirements of due process, be immediately heard
and decided by it within five days from the receipt of the protest motion thereof. No decision
or resolution shall be rendered by Comelec either en banc or by division unless taken up in a
formal session properly convened for the purpose;
e. Comelec may, when necessary, avail of the assistance of the SSC Supreme Court to execute
under its direct and immediate supervision any of its final decisions, orders, instructions or
rulings;
f. Enforce and execute its decisions, directives, orders and instructions which shall have
precedence over those emanating from any other authority;
2

Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines

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g. Prescribe the forms to be used in the election, plebiscite or referendum;

h. Procure any supplies, equipment, materials or services needed for the holding of the election
and prescribe the use or adoption of the latest technological and electronic devices. In case of
an automated election, an independent software developer shall be employed by the Comelec
and shall be known by key persons in the Comelec only;
i. Carry out a continuing and systematic campaign through newspapers of general circulation,
radios and other media forms to educate the public and fully inform the electorate about
election laws, procedures, decisions, and other matters relative to the work and duties of the
Comelec and the necessity of clean, free, orderly and honest electoral processes;
j. Enlist non-partisan student organizations known for their probity, impartiality and integrity
with the membership and capability to undertake a coordinated operation and activity to assist
the Comelec in the implementation of the provisions of this Code and the resolutions, orders
and instructions for the purpose of ensuring free, orderly and honest elections in any
constituency. This may include an undertaking of an information campaign on salient features
of this Code and help in the dissemination of the orders, decisions and resolutions of Comelec
relative to the forthcoming election; and
k. Submit to the Supreme Student Council a report on the conduct and manner of each election
fifteen days after the conduct of elections.
SECTION 4. Positions and Functions. The Comelec have the following field offices with their
respective functions:
a. Chairperson
1. Calls and presides over meetings of members of the Comelec;
2. Executes all policies or resolutions duly passed by the Comelec; and
3. Acts as official representative of the Comelec.
b. Commissioner-at-large
1. To facilitate in processing necessary permits in the utilization of university facilities;
2. Assists the Chairperson in his/her duties;
3. Supervises the 7 Collegiate Council Commissioners (CCC); and
4. Performs such other duties as the Chairperson may from time to time impose upon his/her
office.
c. Secretary
1. Keeps records of all the minutes and activities of the Comelec;
2. Keeps an account of all official records of the Comelec; and
3. Performs such other duties as the Chairperson may from time to time impose upon his/her
office.
4. Has no voting power in the Comelec.
d. Finance Commissioner
1. Is responsible for all financial matters of the Comelec; and
2. Performs such other duties as the Chairperson may from time to time impose upon his/her
office.
3. Has no voting power in the Comelec.
e. Audit Commissioner
1. An independent organization or group of individuals;
2. Responsible for auditing financial expenses of the Comelec; and
3. Responsible for final audit check of the consistency of the votes recorded in the election
returns.
4. Has no voting power in the Comelec.

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f.

Collegiate Council Commissioners (CCC)

1. Calls and presides over meetings of members of the Collegiate Council Comelec Branch;
2. Acts as an official representative of the Collegiate Council Comelec Branch; and
3. Performs such other duties as the Chairperson may impose upon his/her office.

g.

Collegiate Council Volunteers (Volunteers)

1. Pre-determined and invited by the CCC as volunteer under his/her college and upon final
approval of the Commissioner-at-large. The Chairperson and the Commissioner-at-large
reserves the right to forfeit volunteership upon affiliation or show of any support to any
candidate or political party or if seen incompetent in performing ones duties in the Comelec
as assigned thereto; and
2. Performs such other duties as the Collegiate Commissioner to which he/she is under may
from time to time impose upon his/her service.

SECTION 5. Committee Heads and its Functions The 7 Collegiate Council Commissioners
(CCC) shall be heading a committee with its members in the same council unless re-assigned. The
Comelec shall have the following committees with their respective functions:
a. Logistics Committee
1. Responsible for the acquisition of necessary election materials such as computer units,
speakers, microphones, etc..;
2. File necessary permits in the utilization of university facilities such as securing voting
precincts and venues for the election rallies and presidential debates; and
3. Performs such other duties as the Chairperson may from time to time impose upon his/her
office.
4. One logistic committee shall be serving in Downtown and Talamban Campus each.
b. Questions and Protests Committee
1. Facilitate the lobbying of any complaints, questions and protests in issues pertaining to
the following:
a. Performances and functions of Comelec
b. Political parties and candidate
c. Public-Info Relations Committee
1. Makes public all activities of the Comelec;
2. Disseminate information to the members of the Comelec; and
3. Performs such other duties as the Chairperson may from time to time impose upon his/her
office.
d. Accreditation Committee
1. Distributes and receives party registration forms;
2. Distributes and receives certificate of candidacies;
3. Checks if all requirements are complete and properly complied for submission; and
4. Prepares the initial and official list of registered parties and candidates.
e. Campaign Regulations Committee
1. Checks and reports if parties and candidates correctly complied with the election
guidelines for campaigns set in this Code especially in line with the provisions set in
Articles VI, VII, VIII and IX; and
2. Upon due investigation when the committee sees that any of the provisions set in the code
is violated, the committee represented by the committee Chairperson may summon the
violator to a controversy pending before it and the committee may take testimony in any
investigation or hearing before it.

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f.

Security and Control Committee

1. Sees to it that the polling precincts are safe and secure;
2. Responsible for the protection of the equipment used by the Comelec; and
3. Takes charge in crowd control during grand rallies and debates.

g. Legal Committee
1. Advices the Comelec sitting en banc pertaining to the legality of its decision, statements
and actions.
2. Consists of students from the College of Law under the Collegiate Commission of the
School of Law and Governance.
SECTION 6. Qualification of Members of the University COMELEC. No member of the
Comelec should be involved in any partisan political party/activity. The members must be qualified
voters in their respective collegiate councils. Being a member of the Comelec, they must not be
candidates nor shall run for any elective position in the USC SSC.
SECTION 7. Resignation of COMELEC staff. Any past Comelec personnel with a position in
any field office other than a volunteer who wish to run for Council after his/her service in Comelec
must submit a letter of resignation addressed to the current Comelec Chairperson or the incumbent
Chairperson in the absence of a newly appointed one.

ARTICLE III. ELECTION OF USC SSC

SECTION 1. Composition. The USC SSC shall be composed of the President, Vice President,
and twenty one (21) Councilors.
SECTION 2. Regular Elections of the USC SSC Members. Unless otherwise provided by the
Comelec, the regular election for the SSC shall be held on the last Thursday of February and on the
same day every year thereafter. The regular election shall be moved in cases of examination week or
in any serious cause such as violence, terrorism, loss or destruction of election materials or records,
force majeure, and other analogous causes of such a nature that the holding of a free, orderly and
honest election should become impossible.
The President-elect, the Vice President elect and the Councilors-elect shall assume office
upon taking oath of office.
SECTION 3. Special Elections. If after the declaration of the winners, should there be any vacant
offices in the USC SSC, a special election shall be called for by the COMELEC three weeks
thereafter.
SECTION 4. Term of Office. USC SSC officials shall be elected for a term of one year upon
taking oath of office and end on the day the new set of USC SSC members have taken their oath, as
provided for in the USC SSC Constitution.
SECTION 5. Termination of Office. The term of office of any incumbent USC SSC official
shall automatically be terminated for any of the causes specified hereunder:
a. Upon death, sickness, resignation or inability to fulfill the powers and duties of the said
office;
b. Upon disqualification from re-enrolment for any semester during the school year of his/her
term for academic reasons, provided that automatic termination shall take effect only upon
official written notice from the dean or chairman of his/her college or department;

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c. Upon his receipt of the official written notice issued by competent authority of any of the
following:
1. Honorable dismissal
2. Suspension for more than one month
3. Expulsion
d. Upon failure to re-enroll for any semester during his/her term.
SECTION 6. Filling of Vacancy. Vacancies arising from the above mentioned causes shall be
filled in the following manner:
a. If at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the president-elect shall
have died or is incapacitated, the Vice- President shall automatically assume the office of the
President. The Councilor with the highest number of votes upon taking his/her oath of office
shall assume the office of the Vice President. The vacancy occurred in the office of the
Councilor who assumed the office of the Vice President shall remain vacant unless the SSC
calls Comelec for a special election to fill-up the vacancy.
b. If at the time fixed for the beginning of the term, both the President and the Vice President
shall have died or is incapacitated, the top 2 Councilors with the highest number of votes in
the preceding election shall act as temporary President and Vice President. Within thirty days
after the occurrence of the vacancies of both offices of the President and Vice President, the
Comelec shall then call a special election for President and Vice President to occupy the said
vacancies.
c. No special election shall be called two months prior to the next regular election.
d. If the President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of the term,
or if the President shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President shall act as President
and the Councilor with the highest number of votes in the preceding election shall act as the
Vice-President until such a President and a Vice-President shall has been chosen and
qualified. If both the President and the Vice President shall not have been chosen or shall have
failed to qualify, the Councilors with the highest and second highest number of votes shall
temporarily act as President and Vice President respectively until such a have been chosen
and qualified.
e. In the event of removal of the President from office, or death, resignation, or inability to
discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the Vice President shall automatically
assume the position to serve the unexpired portion of his/her term. In the case of removal,
death, resignation, or inability of both, the Supreme Student Council shall then call Comelec
for a special election to provide for both the President and Vice President. The Councilors
with the highest number of votes shall temporarily assume the vacated offices. Such
Councilors shall act accordingly until a President and Vice President shall have been elected.
f. In the event of removal of a Councilor from office, or death, resignation, or inability to
discharge the power and duties of the said office, the Supreme Student Council shall then call
Comelec to conduct a special election to provide for the vacancy otherwise the position shall
remain vacant.

ARTICLE IV. QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES

SECTION 1. Qualifications for Presidency and Vice Presidency. Pursuant to the USC SSC
Constitution, no student shall be elected to the Presidency or Vice Presidency unless:
a. He/she is a natural born Filipino citizen;
b. He/she is a bona fide student of the University of San Carlos with the minimum load of
fifteen (15) units for undergraduate students and six (6) units for post-graduate students;
c. He/she has resided in the University for at least one year immediately preceding the elections;
d. He/she has not been connected with the University for at least one year immediately
preceding the elections through direct or indirect employment;

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e. He/she is not graduating within the term of office;

f. He/she must be a qualified voter of his/her college; and
g. He/she has no record of suspension from the Administration by a final judgment rendered due
to cases involving moral turpitude.
SECTION 2. Qualifications for the officers of Council. Pursuant to the USC SSC Constitution,
no student shall become an officer of the Supreme Student Council unless:
a. He/she is a bona fide student of the University of San Carlos with a minimum load of fifteen
(15) units for undergraduate students or six (6) units for post-graduate students;
b. He/she has residence in his college for one semester immediately preceding the elections;
c. He/she must not be connected with the University through direct or indirect employment;
d. He/she is not graduating within the term of office;
e. He/she must be a qualified voter in his college; and
f. He/she has no record of suspension from the Administration by a final judgment rendered due
to cases involving moral turpitude.
SECTION 3. Disqualification. Any candidate who declared, by final decision by the SSC Supreme
Court, guilty of having:
a. Given money or other material consideration to influence, induce, or corrupt voters;
b. Committed acts of terrorism such as death threat, black mailing and the like, to enhance
his/her candidacy;
c. Spent in his/her election campaign an amount in excess of that allowed by this code, shall be
disqualified from continuing as a candidate, or if he/she has been elected, shall terminate
his/her term of office;
d. Serves as penalty after occurrence of election violation as determined by the Comelec;
e. He/she has been suspended for a period of more than one month as of the Election Day;
f. He/she has been found guilty of violating any provision of the USC-SSC Constitution within
one year immediately preceding the elections; or
g. Any violation of the Philippine laws as well as the possession of a criminal or juvenile case or
record filed against the candidate.
SECTION 4. Nuisance candidates. The Comelec may motu proprio or upon a verified petition of
an interested party, refuse to give due course to or cancel a certificate of candidacy if it is shown that
said certificate has been filed to put the election process in mockery or disrepute or to cause confusion
among the voters by the similarity of the names of the registered candidates or by other circumstances
or acts which clearly demonstrate that the candidate has no bona fide intention to run for the office for
which the certificate of candidacy has been filed and thus prevent a faithful determination of the true
will of the electorate.

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ARTICLE V. QUALIFICATIONS OF VOTERS

SECTION 1. Qualifications of Voters. In order to qualify as a voter in the elections, a student;
a. Must be officially enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate or certificate or diploma degree
program of the University of San Carlos;
b. Those enrolled in two or more colleges shall be registered as such, only in the college where
he/she is primarily enrolled.
SECTION 2. Cross Enrollment from other Institution of Learning. A cross-enrollee,
registrant from other institutions of learning, may be qualified as an elector if he/she is enrolled in not
less than two subjects and only in the college where he/she takes the greatest number of his/her crossenrolled subjects or special subjects.
SECTION 3. Disqualification as a Voter. A student is disqualified to vote in any electoral
exercise when;
a. He/she has been suspended for a period of more than one month as of the election day; or
b. He/she has been found guilty of violating any provision of the USC SSC Constitution
within one year immediately preceding the elections.

ARTICLE VI. ELECTION CALENDAR

SECTION 1. Date of Elections. Unless otherwise provided by the Comelec, the regular election for
the SSC shall be held on the last Thursday of February and on the same day every year thereafter. The
regular election shall be moved in cases of examination week or in any serious cause such as violence,
terrorism, loss or destruction of election materials or records, force majeure, and other analogous
causes of such a nature that the holding of a free, orderly and honest election should become
impossible.
SECTION 2. Election Duration. The election period shall start on the first day of the exposition of
the USC Student Election Code and shall last for not more than seven weeks unless if the date of
elections has been moved according to reasons stated in Article VI Section 1.
SECTION 3. First Week Schedule. The activities of the first week of the election period shall
include the following:
a. Exposition of the Election Code
b. Start of COMELEC Information Campaign (tarpaulin, video presentation, infographics etc.).
c. Registration of political parties on Tuesday
d. Release of the initial list of registered political parties on Friday
SECTION 4. Second Week Schedule. The activities of the second week of the election period
shall include the following:
a. Filing of certificate of candidacy on Monday
b. Last day of filing certificate of candidacy on Thursday
SECTION 5. Third Week Schedule. The activities of the third week of the election period shall
include the following:
a. Release of the initial list of candidates on Monday
b. Filing of protest against candidates with the Comelec provided that such protest be submitted
not later than Wednesday
c. Release of official candidates on Friday provided that the candidate has no pending protest.
d. In the event of a protest, a candidate may be added to the list upon settlement of the protest

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SECTION 6. Fourth Week Schedule. The activities of the fourth week of the election period shall
include the following:
a. Start of campaign period on Monday
SECTION 7. Fifth Week Schedule. The activities of the fifth week of the election period shall
include the following:
a. Presidential debate
SECTION 8. Sixth Week Schedule. The activities of the sixth week of the election period shall
include the following:
a. Grand rally at Talamban Campus on Monday
b. Grand rally at Downtown Campus on Tuesday
c. Silent Day on Wednesday
d. Election day on Thursday
e. Release of election results
f. Post-election protests starts right after the release of election results
SECTION 9. Seventh Week Schedule. The activities of the seventh week of the election period
shall include the following:
a. Deadline of post-election protest on Thursday
b. Release of official list of duly elected USC-SCC officials on Friday
c. Submission of Report of Expenditures per party and per Independent candidate on Friday
SECTION 10. Oath Taking Proclamation of winners and Oath taking will be on a scheduled date
after the protest period. No officer-elect can assume office without taking his/her oath. If in case an
officer-elect cannot attend the oath taking ceremony of the Comelec due to sickness, marriage, exams
and burial of a family, he/she may be oathed separately by the COMELEC Chair and witnessed by the
new Supreme Student Council Officers.
NOTA BENE: Submission of entries must be done on or before 6:00pm in the evening of the
aforementioned dates at the SSC Office or a venue prescribed by the COMELEC.

ARTICLE VII. POLITICAL PARTIES

SECTION 1. Registration. Political parties must register or renew their registration with the
Comelec, within the days stated in the Election Calendar, before their political machinery can be
recognized and avail of campus facilities.
A registration form shall be accomplished which shall contain the following:
1. Name of the party,
2. Date of formation of the party,
3. Updated number of current members,
4. List of officers with respective addresses and signatures,
5. A copy of the constitution of the party,
6. Its platforms of government, and
7. Organizational structure.
8. An amount of seven hundred-fifty pesos (750.00) registration fee for each political party is
required upon registration.

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SECTION 2. Supervision. The University and Comelec shall have the power to impose rules and
regulations and exact obedience from candidates of political parties and independent candidates under
pain of penalties enunciated by the Code.

ARTICLE VIII. CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY

SECTION 1. Filing of Certificate of Candidacy. No person shall be eligible for any elective
public office unless he/she files a sworn certificate of candidacy within the period fixed herein.
SECTION 2. Contents of Certificate Candidacy. The certificate of candidacy shall state that the
person filing it is announcing his/her candidacy for the office stated therein and that he/she is eligible
for said office:
a. His/her name and stage name and the course and year;
b. Length of residence in the University,
c. Current academic load,
d. His/her present organizational affiliations and positions,
e. The political party to which he/she belongs,
f. Civil status,
g. His/her date of birth,
h. Place of residence,
i. Social media accounts,
j.

That he/she will support and defend the USC Constitution and will maintain the true faith and
allegiance thereto,

k. That the obligation imposed by his/her oath is assumed voluntarily, without mental
reservation or purpose of evasion; and that the facts stated in the certificate of candidacy are
true to the best of his/her knowledge.
SECTION 3. Other Requirements. Together with the certificate of candidacy, the following must
be submitted:
a. Certification from the Dean or Chairman pursuant to Article IV Sections 1 and 2;
b. Filing fee of one hundred pesos (P100.00) per candidate;
c. Two (2x2) black and white / colored pictures with white background;
d. A copy of the present study load;
e. For incumbent officers in the USC SSC, a signed and approved letter of resignation
pursuant to Article VIII Sec 6 of this Election Code; and
f.

Furnished copy of information of all the candidates and political partys authentic social
media accounts.

Provided that other requirements not submitted by a candidate during the deadline shall be
complied with not later than Wednesday of the following week with fifty pesos (P50.00) penalty for
every requirement.
There shall be no extension other than that stipulated herein.
SECTION 4. Petition to Deny Due Course to or Cancel a Certificate of Candidacy. A written
petition seeking to deny due course or to cancel a certificate of candidacy may be filed by any person
exclusively on the ground that any material representation contained therein as required under Sec.2
hereof is false. The petition may be filed at any time until the third day of the third week of the

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Election Calendar and shall be decided, after due notice and hearing, not later than Saturday of the
same week.
SECTION 5. Withdrawal of Certificate of Candidacy. No certificate of candidacy duly filed
shall be considered withdrawn, unless the candidate presents his notice of withdrawal, duly signed by
the candidate and the political party chairman, addressed to the Comelec Chairperson sometime
before the day of election.
SECTION 6. Candidate Holding Office or Position. Persons holding office or position in the
USC SSC shall first resign from his/her position before filing his/her certificate of candidacy.

ARTICLE IX. CAMPAIGN AND ELECTION PROPAGANDA

SECTION 1. COMELEC Information Bulletin. The Comelec shall cause the printing and
supervise the dissemination of bulletins to be known as COMELEC Bulletin. Said bulletin shall be
disseminated to the voters or displayed in Dowtown,Talamban and South campuses as to give due
prominence thereto. It shall also contain the information on how to vote.
SECTION 2. Election Campaign. The following acts are recognized as campaigning designed to
promote the election of a particular candidate or candidates to a public office which shall include:
a. Forming organizations, associations, clubs, committees or other groups of persons for the
purpose of soliciting votes and/or undertaking any campaign for a candidate;
b. Holding political caucuses, conferences, meetings, election rallies, or other similar
assemblies, for the purpose of soliciting votes and/or undertaking any campaign or
propaganda for a candidate provided it is not against the University policies; and
c. Making speeches, announcements or commentaries, or holding interviews for the election of
any candidate for public office.
SECTION 3. Election campaign outside campaign period. It shall be unlawful for any person,
whether or not a voter or candidate, or for any party, or association of persons, to engage in any kind
of electoral campaigning except during the campaign period.
SECTION 4. Lawful Election Propaganda. Lawful election propaganda shall include:
a. Pamphlets, leaflets, cards, decals, stickers, or other written or printed materials of a size not
more than eight and one half inches in width and fourteen inches in length;
b. Cloth, paper or cardboard posters, whether framed or posted, with an area not exceeding two
feet by three feet. At the site and on the occasion of a public meeting or rally, streamers not
exceeding four feet by eight feet in size shall be allowed provided that only one streamer be
placed in each campus during the campaign period;
c. Tarpaulins presenting the slate of each party, with an area not exceeding five feet by eight
feet, provided that only maximum two tarpaulins be placed at Downtown Campus, one at
South Campus, and five at the Talamban Campus, one for each building. For independent
candidates, the same regulation applies provided that each does not exceed 27 inches by 41
inches.
d. Other forms of gimmickry such as pins, bookmarks, buttons, badges are allowed for as long
as they do not exceed the budget limit: Provided that they shall only be worn during the
campaign period. Distribution and selling of the official political party or candidate shirts and
ID slings shall be lawful under the spirit of a fund-raising activity for the party or candidate
campaigns.
e. Only sample ballots will be distributed during the Election Day with a minimum radius of 30
meters from the polling precincts.

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SECTION 5. Removal, Destruction or Defacement of Lawful Election Propaganda Prohibited.

It shall be unlawful for any person during the campaign period to remove, destroy, obliterate, or in
any manner deface or tamper with, or prevent the distribution of lawful election propaganda.
SECTION 6. Prohibited forms of Election Propaganda. It shall be unlawful:
a. To print, publish, post or distribute any poster, pamphlet, circular or printed matter urging
voters to vote against any candidate or political party;
b. To purchase, manufacture, request, distribute or accept electoral propaganda gadgets, such as
pens, lighters, fans of whatever nature, flashlights, athletic goods or materials, wallets, hats,
bandanas, matches, cigarettes and the like;
c. It shall be unlawful for any candidate, political party, organization, or any person to give or
accept, free of charge, directly or indirectly, transportation, food or drinks or things of value
during the five hours before and after a public meeting, on the day preceding the election, and
on the day of the election; or to give or contribute, directly or indirectly, money or things of
value for such purpose.
Any prohibited propaganda gadget or advertisement shall be stopped, confiscated or torn down by
the representative of the Comelec upon specific authority of the Comelec.
SECTION 7. Social Media and Electronic Campaigning. Provisions relating to campaigning
apply to social media in the same manner they apply to any other media. The following clarify the
procedure for candidates and political parties to account for use of social media:
a. All candidates and political parties shall declare all their social media accounts upon
submission of the certificate of candidacy;
b. Candidates and political parties are to account for payments made to internet companies and
social media websites for posting advertisements, expenditure on making and development of
creative content, and operational expenditure for maintaining social media accounts;
c. The Mode of Conduct will apply to content being posted on the internet, including social
media websites, by the candidates, political parties, and supporters. The same would apply to
social media campaign run and text messaging during the campaign period or for purposes of
the election. These campaigns cannot make any personal attacks or promote communal
hatred;
d. Content posted by persons other than candidates and political parties, will be consulted with
Comelec in so far as they relate to, or can be reasonably connected with, the election
campaigning of political parties and candidates. Supporter-violator/s found guilty of election
offenses shall be penalized with fines according to the gravity of the offense not exceeding
that stipulated in Article 9 Sec 15 of this code. In the event the supporter-violator campaigned
for a candidate or a political party in a manner violating the provisions in thus code, both the
offender and the candidate or political party in question shall be called upon by the Comelec
through a written warning. In succeeding offenses, the same penalties apply as that stated in
Article 9 Sec 15 of this code;
e. Screen Captures will be recognized as proof of electronic and internes election offenses.
SECTION 8. Comelec Poster Area. Whenever practicable, the Comelec shall also designate and
provide for a common poster area in strategic places in each campus.
SECTION 9. Room to Room Campaign. Permits with the original signature of the COMELEC
Chairman shall be presented to the teacher/instructor by the candidate/political party for the purpose
of room-to-room campaign.
Room to room campaign shall be limited only to fifteen (15) minutes unless the
teacher/instructor permits an extension.

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SECTION 10. Presidential Debate. A presidential debate shall be organized by the Comelec on a
date specified in the Election Calendar. The debate will allow the voters to engage with the President
and Vice-President candidates as well as inquire and raise questions on their platforms of government.
SECTION 11. Election Rallies. The Comelec shall organize at least one election rally in
Downtown and Talamban Campus each. These rallies shall be held on the sixth week of the Election
Calendar.
SECTION 12. Mode of Conduct. No one, especially candidates and party members, shall be
tolerated doing mudslinging, personality assassinations, libelous speeches, or behavior not
consistent with the standard of decency as adjudged by the Comelec.
Any violation shall be accorded warnings and fines, which shall constitute sufficient penalties
including disqualification.
SECTION 13. Silent Day. No form of campaign or gimmickry is allowed on Silent Day whether
in-campus or online. Candidates, campaign managers and supporters are not allowed to use or display
a candidates campaign ID. Candidates and campaign managers are not allowed to wear their official
party and campaign shirts and ID slings from Silent Day to Election Day.
SECTION 14. Candidate/Political Party Expenditures. Each political party with its candidates is
allowed to spend with a maximum of computation of:
Total population of students enrolled in the University x 1.50 Pesos
Independent candidates shall be computed:
Total population of students enrolled in the University x 0.50 Pesos
Donations shall be excluded from candidate/party expenditures provided that the same shall
be reflected in the Report of Expenditures to be submitted to the Comelec not later than one week
after elections.
SECTION 15. Election Offenses. Any person or party found guilty of any election offense or
violation under this Code shall be penalized. Falsification of any documents related to the election is
automatic ground for disqualification of the candidate-offender or party-offender. The following are
penalties due to the offender candidate or party:
First offense:
Second offense:
Third offense:
Fourth offense:

Written warning from the COMELEC

Second written warning and a fine of 5% of the maximum allowable
budget
Public warning and a fine of 6% of the maximum allowable budget
Disqualification and a fine of 7% of the maximum allowable budget
for damages

ARTICLE X. ELECTION PROPER

SECTION 1. Election Time. The election time shall be from eight in the morning until six in the
afternoon or as extended by the Chairperson with a thirty minutes break for lunch.

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SECTION 2. Precincts and Polling Places. The Comelec will secure rooms or areas to be utilized
as precincts for the whole day of the Election Day in Downtown, Talamban and South campuses of
the University.
SECTION 3. Officials Watchers of Candidates. Every registered political party, coalition of
political parties and every independent candidate shall each be entitled to two watchers in every
polling place. No person shall be appointed watcher unless he/she is a qualified voter of the
University.
Upon entering the polling place, the watchers shall present and deliver to the Head of the
Collegiate Council Commission, and forthwith, his name shall be recorded in the minutes with a
notation under his signature that he is not a disqualified voter.
SECTION 4. Casting of Votes:
a. The Collegiate Council Commission (CCC) shall meet at the polling place at seven oclock in
the morning of the Election Day and shall have the certified list of voters, the certified list of
candidates, and all other materials which may be necessary for the conduct of the election.
b. For automated elections, open the assigned computer units and log them in to the sites
provided. The election Unlocker will immediately access his/her account in one computer per
precinct reserved for this purpose.
c. For manual elections, the ballot boxes will be emptied its compartments and exhibit them to
all those present and being empty, lock its cover with a padlock. Comelec shall forthwith
show to the public and the watchers present the package of official ballots. The box shall
remain locked until the voting is finished and the counting begins.
SECTION 5. Manner of Obtaining / Preparing Ballots. The voter shall approach the Poll clerk
and shall give his/her name and I.D no. or other data concerning his/her identification.
For automated election, if the clerk is satisfied with the voters identity, the Unlocker unlocks
the voters ID and may now sign in to the computer assigned him/her.
For manual election, if the clerk is satisfied with the voters identity, the voter shall forthwith
affix his signature in a proper space in the voters list. The Clerk shall deliver to the voter one ballot
correctly folded. The voter upon receiving the ballots shall fill up the ballots at the voting space
provided and shall fold it in the same manner as when he/she received it. In the presence of all the
members of Comelec in the precincts, he/she shall affix his/her thumb mark on the corresponding
space in the coupon, and deliver the folded ballot to the Clerk.
The Clerk, after finding everything to be in order, shall then detach the coupon in the
presence of the Comelec and of the voter and shall deposit the folded ballot in the compartment of
valid ballots.

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ARTICLE XI. CANVASSING OF VOTES

SECTION 1. Automated Elections. The Automated Election System is a system using appropriate
technology demonstrated in the voting, counting and transmission of election results and other
electoral processes.
This is to ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful, credible and informed elections, plebiscites,
referenda, recall and other similar electoral exercises by improving on the election process and
adopting systems, which shall involve the use of an automated election system that will ensure the
secrecy and sanctity of the ballot and all election, consolidation and transmission documents in order
that the process shall be transparent and credible and that the results shall be fast, accurate and
reflective of the genuine will of the student body.
To ensure honest and credible elections, only key persons from the Comelec may know
information regarding the system developer.
SECTION 2. Voting Process. The procedure in voting shall be as follows:
a. The voters shall approach the Election Unlocker upon entry to the polling precinct and
present his I.D. or other data concerning his identification for the unlocking of his account.
b. Once his/her account has been unlocked, the voter will proceed to the designated computer
unit wherein he/she would need to sign in through his I.D. number, after which, he/she could
cast his/her votes by clicking not more than one (1) Presidential candidate, (1) VicePresidential candidate and (21) Councilors of his/her choice.
c. After checking the names, the voter needs to press VOTE NOW button and then a page
that shows the summary of your votes will show. If the voter wishes to edit his/her votes,
he/she may click the GO BACK button and he will be lead to the ballot page again. After
reviewing his/her votes, he/she may click SUBMIT VOTE button.
d. The voting process (a-c) shall be done within a five (5)-minute time, if the voter goes
beyond, he/she needs to approach the Election Unlocker again and present his/her I.D. or
other data concerning his/her identification for his/her account to be unlocked again.
Should the Comelec employ another online system or software for voting, may lay out the
new voting process through a separate resolution explaining the new procedure The parties,
candidates and the voters must be duly informed of the voting process in all media platforms
including but not limited to general circulation through the school publication.
SECTION 3. Manner of Presenting the Election Results. - The Comelec Chairperson along with
the Collegiate Council Commission with the aid of the official System Developer and specialist
shall witness the electronic count and summary of votes once the voting has officially commenced
for all the precincts in the three campuses.
A single room will be utilized for the presentation of results to all students. The total number
of votes per candidate and the order of candidates basing on the number of votes shall be shown to the
students the night of the Election Day. Printed copies of the initial results and the audit of votes per
college and per department and other important audit trails shall be given to each political party and
independent candidate(s).
SECTION 4. Manual Election. In case of the unavailability of a system developer or of an
impossibility of an automated election, a manual election may be deployed. The following are the
procedures for the handling of materials and records:
a. The Commissioner-at-Large shall be responsible for the direct handling of election materials
and records until the final determination of the post return of the particular ballot box per
Collegiate Council.

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b. Providing, afterwards, both the materials and records shall be turned over to the Board of
Election Canvassers consisting of the Comelec Chair, Secretary, and Finance Commissioner.
SECTION 5. Counting of Votes. As soon as the voting is finished, the CCC shall note number of
actual voters as shown in the official voters list. They shall open the ballot box and count the number
of ballots and find out if both figures tally. If there are more ballots present than the number of voters
who voted, the Comelec Chairperson without seeing the contents shall pick at random the number of
ballots in excess so that the number of participating electors and the number of ballots will coincide.
These excess ballots shall not be read in the counting. If the number of ballots is less than the number
of votes cast, the same shall be noted but no addition to the ballots in the box shall be made.
SECTION 6. Manner of Counting Votes. CCC shall unfold the ballots one by one and read the
names of candidates voted for the said office as they were in the order voted. The Comelec shall sign
at the back of the ballot immediately after it is counted. The Secretary shall record in the election
return and tally board each vote as the names voted are read.
After all the ballots have been read, the Secretary shall sum up the totals recorded for each
candidate, and the aggregate sum and record such in the election return and on the tally board. The
Election Returns shall be certified by the Comelec Chairperson and the poll watchers of the said
precinct.
SECTION 7. Rules for Appreciation of Ballots. The CCC shall observe the following rules:
1. Where only the first name of a candidate or only his/her surname is written, the vote for such
candidate is valid, if there is no other candidate with the same first name or surname for the
same office.
2. When on the ballot is written a single word which is the first name of the candidate and
which is at the same time the surname of his/her opponent, the vote shall be counted in favor
of the latter.
3. When two or more words are written on the same line of the ballot, all of which are
surnames of two or more candidates, the same shall not be counted for any of them.
4. When two words are written on the ballot, one of which is the first name of the candidate
and the other is the surname of his/her opponent, the vote shall not be counted for either.
5. A name or surname incorrectly written which, when read, has a sound similar to the name or
surname of a candidate, when correctly written shall be counted in his/her favor.
6. When a name of a candidate appears in a space of the ballot for an office for which he is a
candidate and in another space for which he is not a candidate, the former shall be
considered a stray vote.
7. When in 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.
8. The erroneous initial of the first name or the middle name which accompanies the correct
surname of a candidate shall not annul the vote in favor of the latter.
9. That if, the nickname used is unaccompanied by the name or surname of a candidate and it is
the one by which he is generally or popularly known in school, the name shall be counted in
favor of said candidate, if there is no other candidate for the same office with the same
nickname.
10. Any vote containing initials only which is illegible or which does not sufficiently identify
the candidate for whom it is intended shall be considered as a stray vote but shall not
invalidate the whole ballot.
11. If the candidates voted for exceed the number of those to be elected, the ballot is valid, but
the votes shall be counted only in favor of the candidates whose name are firstly written by
the voter within the spaces provided for said office in the ballot until the authorized number
is covered.
12. Ballots containing the name of a candidate printed and pasted on a blank space of the ballot
or affixed thereto through any mechanical process are totally null and void.

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13. Any vote cast in favor of a candidate who has been disqualified by final judgment shall be
considered as stray and shall not be counted but it shall not invalidate the ballot.
14. The accidental tearing or perforation of a ballot does not annul it.
15. Failure to remove the detachable coupon from a ballot does not annul such ballot.
16. The ballot without thumb mark of the voter shall be considered invalid.
17. Block voting shall consider the ballot null and void.
SECTION 8. Settlement of Questions. Any question or controversy concerning a vote or ballot
from one of the CCC or recognized party watchers shall be decided immediately by the Comelec
Chairperson with the Protest Committee.
SECTION 9. Canvassing of Election Returns. Immediately after the counting of ballots the CCC
shall then endorse the election returns to any of the Board of Canvassers.
SECTION 10. Election Resulting in Tie. Whenever it shall appear from the canvass that two or
more candidates have received an equal and highest number of votes, or in cases where two or more
candidates are to be elected for the same position and two or more candidates received the same
number of votes for the last place in the number to be elected, the board of canvassers, after recording
this fact in its minutes, shall by resolution, upon five days notice to all the tied candidates, hold a
special public meeting at which the board of canvassers shall proceed to the drawing of lots of the
candidates who have tied and shall proclaim as elected the candidates who may be favored by luck,
and the candidates so proclaimed shall have the right to assume office in the same manner as if
elected by plurality of vote. The board of canvassers shall forthwith make a certificate stating the
name of the candidate who had been favored by luck and his/her proclamation on the basis thereof.
Nothing in this section shall be construed as depriving a candidate of his/her right to contest
the election.

ARTICLE XII. ELECTION CONTESTS

SECTION 1. Jurisdiction of the COMELEC. The Comelec shall be the sole judge of all contests
relating to the elections, returns, and qualifications of all elected officer in the SSC.
SECTION 2. Election Contest By A Candidate. A sworn petition contesting the election of any
officer in the SSC shall be filed with the Comelec by any candidate who has duly filed a certificate of
candidacy and has been voted for the same office, within one week after the proclamation of the
results of the election.
SECTION 3. Election Contest By A Voter. Any voter contesting the election of any officer in the
SSC shall file a sworn petition for quo warranto with the Comelec within one week after the
proclamation of the results of the election.
SECTION 4. Procedures In Election Contests. Such rules shall provide a simple and inexpensive
procedure for the expeditious disposition of election contests.
a. The protestee and the candidate in question shall be summoned by the Comelec to hear
the protest.
b. Where allegations in a protest or counter-protest so warrant, or whenever in the opinion of the
court the interests of justice so require, it shall immediately order the book of voters, and a
certified audit trail of all votes. In the case of a manual election, ballot boxes and their keys,
ballots and other documents used in the election be brought before it and that the ballots be
examined and the votes recounted.

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c. Comelec shall decide all election cases brought before it within 2 weeks from the date of their
submission for decision. The decision of the Comelec shall come within one week after
receipt of judgment.

ARTICLE XIII. TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Transitory Provisions. Pending actions and causes of action arising before the
effectivity of this Code shall be governed by the laws then in force.
SECTION 2. Separability Clause. If for any reason any section or provision of this Code, or any
portion thereof, or the application of such section, provision or portion to any person, group or
circumstance is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of this Code or the application
of such section, provision or portion thereof to other persons, groups or circumstances shall not be
affected by such declaration.
SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. The previous Election Code (no date specified) as revised, is
hereby repealed. All other election laws, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the
provisions of this Code are hereby repealed.
SECTION 4. Effectivity. This Code shall take effect upon its approval of a simple majority by the
Supreme Student Council and upon general circulation of the school publication.

Approved:
Danica Blanche Fernandez
Chair, COMELEC and Head of Ad Hoc Committee
Mikkel Wilkinson Yang
SSC Councilor

Melissa Reanne De la Cruz

SSC Councilor

Patrick Dy
SSC Councilor

Sofia Lorainne Ygot

SSC Councilor

Ronald Nanong
Commissioner-at-large, COMELEC

Richie Orguilles
Commissioner, COMELEC

Katja Go
Finance Commissioner, COMELEC

Marc Ong
Member, Ad Hoc Committee

Christine Perez
Member, Ad Hoc Committee

Charmaie Brigoli
Member, Ad Hoc Committee
Hanica Ong
Chair, COMELEC College of Law
Adviser, Ad Hoc Committee
Approved:
Nicole Anne Ponce
USC-SSC President
November 8, 2014

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