PLJ volume 37 number 1 -01- Deogracias Eufemio

estly conducted. It is indicative of the growing political maturity
of our electorate.
A; Meaning of "qualified voter."
One of the qualifications for an elective ofiicf: is ·.Il~;.r the N1H'
didate must be a "qualified voter," 56 or "qualified elector." 87 The
point of inquiry, therefore, is when is a person considered a "qualified
voter"?
The Constitution specifically provides :88
•
"Suffrage may be exercised by (m,ale) citizens of the Philippines not
otherwise disqualified by law,li9who are twenty-one years of age or over
and are able to re.ad and write, and who sh!l.l1have resided in the Philippines
f!or one yea.r and in the municipality wherein they propose to vote
for at lea,st six months preceding the election."
On the other hand, Sec. 98 of the Revised Election Code reads
~. follows:
'~",>-
"SEXi:W--Qualiji.cations prescribed {O'l" a. vote'f.-Every citizen of the
. Philippines, whe~llle or female, twenty-one years or over, able to re'ad
and write, who has been a resident of the Philippines for one yeiar and
of the municipality in which he has 'l"egiste'l"ed during the six months
immediately precering, who is not othel'Wisedisqualified, mall vote in the
said precinct at any election."
Is registration as a voter a condition precedent before one can
be considered a "qualified voter"? The answer is in the nega.tive.
"Registration is essential to the exercis.e of the right of suffrage,
not to the pos.session thereof." 190 If a person possesses all the qualifications
specified in Art. V of the Constitution and none of the
disqualifications provided by law, then he is considered a "qualified
voter" as that term is used in our Constitution and statutes, even
if he has not actually registered as a voter. The clause "in which
he had registered" in Sec. 98 of the Revised Election Code cannot
•• PHIL. CONST. Art. VII, &ec. S (Preoident and Vice-President); Sees. 4 k 5-A, Rep. Aet
No. 2264 in ·relation to Sec. 2071, Revised Administrative Code as amended by Rep. Act No. 1095
(Governor. Vice-Governor. and Members of the Provincial Board); Sec. 2174, Revised Acbninis-
~rative Code (eleetive municipal ofl\eials) •
•• PHIL. CONST. Art. VI, sees. 4 (Senator) " 7 (Member of the House of Representatives);
Ser.. 8. Rep. Act No. 2370 (Members of Barrio Council) .
•• PHIL. CON8T. Art. V, sec. 1.
B. The Revised. Election Code provides:
"Sec. 99. DiBqtutliftcatioon•••-The following persons shall not be qualified to vote:
(a) Any person who has been sentenced by final judgment to suffer one year or more of
imprls'