With the upcoming General Elections (GE) and the last revision of the Election Code done two years ago, revision for the Election Code came as top priority especailly sincethe initaitive started a few days before the deadline for filling of candidacy.
The Commission of Elections (COMELEC) presented several revisions to the Legislative Assembly (LA), which approved the revisions in time for the upcoming GE. As Kenneth Sy, COMELEC Chairperson, explains, the revisions seek to satisfy the concerns of all stakeholders involved in the GE.
“The minority floor lobbied for revisions of their own, but were superseded by the more recent proposal of the COMELEC,” explains LA Representative Tracey Liu.
Most of the revisions focused on the qualifications of candidates. The minority floor of the LA wanted to increase the CGPA requirement of candidates from 1.75 to 2.0 and take out the number of failure requirements. This proposal was met with arguments from the two political parties, and was not approved.
Provisions were also made concerning online campaigning. According to the new provisions, online materials need not be removed from and after the campaign period, but political party members will not be allowed to post new campaign materials such as symbols and slogans.
Changes regarding re-elections were also discussed. Re-elections, as defined in the election code, is an election held whenever there is a vacant position in the University Student Government, given the release of winners. In the event of a disqualification or failure of elections, the COMELEC will call for a re-election within four weeks of the subsequent term (in the same academic year) for the vacant position.
