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CAMPAIGN POLICY Campaign Period 1. The Campaign Period starts on February 2 and ends on the day before the elections, Feb 17. 2. The candidates will be held responsible for removing all their campaign materials posted on campus by 12NN of the day after the elections, February 20. General Campaign Guidelines 1. All campaign paraphernalia, including scripts for e-mail, IM, SMS and classroom campaigning, should contain the election dates and poll stations. The Commission shall not approve any and all materials that fail to comply with this condition. 2. The COMELEC Form 10 (Campaign Plan Proposal) shall be submitted in duplicate, with the designs and scripts of all campaign paraphernalia attached, by all candidates, coalitions, and parties for the details of their campaign (i.e. Activity/Material and Location/Venue, Date of Release, and Quantity) for approval. 3. Mass produced campaign paraphernalia must be submitted to the Commission for approval. In order to give the Commission ample time to process them, they can only be claimed twentyfour (24) hours after they have been submitted or after a notification is sent to the candidate or coalition/party representative. However, if the materials are unclaimed within another 24 hours, the Commission reserves the right to dispose them. 4. Only materials with the COMELEC stamp can be posted or distributed. Any violating candidate, party or coalition shall be given appropriate sanctions. 5. Candidates, parties and/or coalitions may post teasers on org boards located along EDSA Walk. Before posting, candidates are encouraged to seek permission, whenever necessary, of the organizations owning them. These organizations have the discretion whether or not to allow the posting of campaign materials. 6. Likewise, they may also post posters on org boards of organizations the COMELEC has successfully sought approval of using the Poster Approval Form (PAF).
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7. Promo boards will be reserved by the COMELEC for the candidates. The allotment of these boards will be assigned by the COMELEC. 8. In order to compensate for this lack of posting space, the COMELEC has decided to accommodate candidate profiles and platforms in its official website, http://ateneocomelec2010.blogspot.com. 9. Classroom to classroom campaigning is allowed. However, candidates will have to make their own personal arrangements with the teachers in whose classes they want to campaign and will have to inform the Commission at least 24 hours beforehand of their intention to campaign. Proper decorum should be observed at all times. Any complaints regarding this form of campaigning shall be immediately looked into and acted upon decisively by the COMELEC. 10. The OSA and DSWS’s rules for posting of promotional materials shall be strictly followed. Any consequent proceedings arising from the violation of any of these rules shall fall under the jurisdiction of the COMELEC. Requirements for Regular Campaign Materials a. Posters Posters are restricted to 11 inches by 17 inches in size. Posters with only the party/coalition name are not allowed. Posters containing other coalitions’ or parties’ members are also prohibited. The number of posters that may be released for the duration of the entire campaign period is restricted to 50 for any and all candidates, parties and coalitions. Candidates, parties and/or coalitions, may however, replace posters already posted provided that the cost ceiling allowed per candidate is not yet reached and/or the number of posters posted do not exceed the maximum of 50 at any time. Any violation shall be given appropriate sanctions. b.
Teasers Teasers are restricted to 8.5 inches by 11 inches size. Teasers with only the party/coalition name are not allowed. Cloth, illustration boards, and plastic materials to be used as teasers are not allowed.
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The number of teasers that may be released for the duration of the entire campaign period is restricted to a maximum of 50 for any and all candidates, parties and coalitions. Candidates, parties and/or coalitions, may however, replace posters already posted provided that the cost ceiling allowed per candidate is not yet reached and/or the number of posters posted do not exceed the maximum of 50 at any time. Any violation shall be given appropriate sanctions.
c. Body Tags Body tags must be able to fit in a square 4.5 inches by 4.5 inches and should be no smaller than 2 inches by 2 inches. Body tags with only the party/coalition name are not allowed. Metal and cloth body tags are not allowed. Body tags may not be in the form of sticker paper and buttons. Laminated body tags are allowed but the material of the body tags will still have to follow the rules for any normal body tags. d. Banners Banners for Lamp Posts are restricted to 3 ft. by 7 ft. Independent Candidates and Coalitions are restricted to reserving one (1) lamp post only. Accredited Political Parties are allowed to reserve a maximum of two (2) lamp posts. Only nylon strings may be used for putting up banners. Reservations shall be done on a first-come-first-served basis through the Ateneo COMELEC. No candidate, political party or coalition will be entertained by the DSWS for additional reservations. e. Streamers Streamers for grilles are restricted to 6ft. by 3ft. Coalitions and accredited political parties are restricted to reserving one (1) grille only. Only nylon strings may be used for putting up banners. Reservations shall be done on a first-come-first-served basis through the Ateneo COMELEC. No candidate, political party or coalition will be entertained by the DSWS for additional reservations.
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Streamers for university gates shall be arranged with the University Physical Plant by the candidate, party or coalition.
System for the Submission and Approval of Materials Twenty four (24) hours before distribution, present all campaign materials to the person manning the COMELEC office. State the name of the candidate and/or party to whom the materials will be counted against. Once your materials have been found to meet all COMELEC requirements and regulations by the person manning the office, make sure to enter the information about your campaign materials in the official log in sheet correctly and accurately. After twenty four (24) hours or when notified, come back and claim your materials. Make sure that all of them contain the official COMELEC stamp and that all of them are accounted for. You will have to affix your signature to the log out form before you can bring out the materials from the COMELEC office. Please double check before signing if the information written in the log out form is correct and accurate. For the replacement of already posted campaign materials, the person in charge of the in the Ops Room should be informed before the replacement materials are turned in for processing. All materials to be replaced have to be presented to the COMELEC office before the new materials are approved. Guidelines for Campaigning through Text and E-Mail The use of the internet, as well as text messaging, is allowed. All messages sent from computers and cellular phones must contain election dates and voting stations. Each party is allowed to send online messages, such as email, for the duration of the campaign period. Party messages must contain all the names of the candidates running for major positions under the party, the election dates, and the voting stations. Online messages containing only the party name are not allowed. The number of text messages and online messages that may be sent for campaign purposes is not limited.
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The COMELEC recognizes the fact that the efficient monitoring of online messages and text messages to be used for campaign purposes is highly unworkable. It is for this reason that the candidates are requested to clearly relay to their supporters all campaign policies, especially policies for email and text campaigns, to ensure that the campaign period will run smoothly for everyone.
Clarifications Giveaways such as shirts, button pins, caps, lanyards/id lace, notebooks, bookmarks, stickers, magnets, baller id’s and the like are not allowed for campaign purposes. Candidates and their supporters are likewise prohibited from wearing or using such items bearing their names, slogans or any print that may be constructed as campaign related. Any campaign using mass media (i.e. television, radio, newspapers) is strictly prohibited. The use of the OSA Public Announcement (PA) System is not allowed. Campaigning for Political Parties and Coalitions 1. Political Parties Candidates from the same party can share campaign materials. Any and all materials that shall be counted towards a particular candidate’s allowable number should be signed by that candidate. Accredited political parties shall be given the privilege of releasing additional materials equivalent to the number of allowable materials for an individual candidate. These materials shall be subjected to the same regulations as those of individual candidates, as defined in this manual. In addition, these materials, except for body tags and teasers, should contain the names of all candidates running under the party. These campaign materials shall not be counted towards the cost and quantity that each candidate is allowed. 2. Coalitions Coalitions are not given the privilege of releasing additional materials equivalent to the number of allowable materials for an individual candidate and shall not be given additional cost
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ceilings. However, coalition members are allowed to campaign with each other, share campaign materials and platform. Mass Actions 1. Mass actions shall be allowed on a first-come-first-served basis, upon the approval of the COMELEC Commissioners. The COMELEC must have approved the form, time, date and place of the mass actions, at least 48 hours ahead of time. 2. All mass actions must be supervised by any COMELEC Commissioner or an official representative thereof. The COMELEC representative present may cease the mass action in cases of any inappropriate action as he or she deems fit. 3. Materials other than the candidate’s approved campaign materials which will be used during the mass action should be submitted to the COMELEC for approval at least twenty-four (24) hours before the mass action and should be given back to the COMELEC right after the mass action. Endorsements 1. Individual elected members of the Sanggunian may endorse candidates and/or political parties within their capacity as individual officers of the Sanggunian. They may not endorse candidates on behalf of the entire Sanggunian. 2. Presidents of auxiliary bodies like COA, ARSA, DSLD and DSWS are not allowed to endorse candidates in their official capacities as heads of Sanggunian bodies. Auxiliary bodies like COA, ARSA, DSLD and DSWS are likewise prohibited from endorsing candidates. 3. Any organization recognized by the COA may endorse a party or candidate to the Sanggunian. An Endorsement Form should be filled up and should contain the signatures of the candidate and/or the political party representative and signed by all officers of the Executive Board of the organization must be presented to the COMELEC before any endorsement. 4. Endorsements may take the form of: Posters, teasers, body tags, banners and streamers – the posters, teasers, and body tags will be considered as part of and the included in the count of campaign materials of the candidate or any party. Therefore, the campaign materials should be in accordance with the requirements stated in
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this manual. Endorsement campaign materials should be submitted to the COMELEC for approval. Mass actions – Endorsing organizations may sponsor mass actions for the candidate or political party. These mass actions must be in accordance with the requirements stated in this manual. Mass actions should not coincide with any of the sponsoring organization’s special events or projects like movie premieres, concerts, org weeks, bazaars and the like. 5. Non-members of the Ateneo Student Body as defined in the 2005 Sanggunian Constitution may not endorse candidates or parties. 6. Coalitions are also not allowed to seek endorsements. ELECTION PROPER 1.
A maximum of one (1) representative per party, coalition, or independent candidate will be allowed in each voting station restricted only to the vicinity of the ballot boxes as a watcher. The representative must wear a COMELEC-approved ID while on duty during the elections. 2. No candidate will be allowed to be his/her own watcher. 3. Candidates are prohibited from campaigning within the vicinity of the voting area. They are requested not to stay near the area except when casting their vote. The designated COMELEC representative has the authority to request candidates that show inappropriate behaviour to leave the area. 4. Only persons wearing authorized identification tags of the COMELEC may stay at the voting areas. Authorized people include the COMELEC Commissioners and Associate Commissioners, poll officers and authorized candidate representatives. CANDIDATE RESPONSIBILITY AND CULPABILITY Candidates’ Responsibility Towards their Supporters Candidates must attempt to control their supporters and ensure that these supporters are aware of campaign rules. Any violation shall lead to a COMELEC investigation and sanctioning of the candidate, party or coalition.
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Party Chairperson’s Responsibility Towards Party Members The party Chairperson or members of the Board of any party shall be held responsible for the actions of their party members during the campaign period. Sanctions against the party as a whole and/or individual candidates shall be enforced as the COMELEC Commissioners deem fit. Sanctions Pursuant to Article 6 Section 4 of the 2010 Electoral Code, the following sanctions shall be given to violating candidates, parties or coalitions: 1. Sanctions for individual candidates may be in the form of: Cutting the allowed number of campaign materials Cutting of cost ceiling Public announcement concerning the violation Written Public Apology Disqualification Hold Order Other sanctions as COMELEC sees fit 2. Sanctions for political parties may be in the form of: Taking away of the privilege of campaign material sharing Cutting the allowed number of campaign materials Cutting of cost ceiling Public announcement concerning the violation Written Public Apology Cancellation of Accreditation Hold Order for responsible party member/s Other sanctions as COMELEC sees fit 3. Sanctions for coalitions may be in the form of: Cutting the allowed number of campaign materials Cutting of cost ceiling Public announcement concerning the violation Public Apology Hold Order for responsible coalition member/s Other sanctions as COMELEC sees fit
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Complaints, Inquiries, Appeals and Protests 1. All complaints, inquiries, appeals or protests must be directed to the COMELEC in an official letter submitted in triplicate form. 2. All necessary evidence for complaints shall be provided by the party forwarding the complaint, inquiry, appeal or protest. 3. Immediate decision and action shall be taken by the COMELEC only with the property filed complaints, inquiries, appeals or protests within seventy-two (72) hours. Appeals to the Student Judicial Court 1. The Student Judicial Court holds appellate jurisdiction over matters involving constitutionally, legality or jurisdiction of acts, policies, resolutions and decisions or the COMELEC. 2. Matters previously ruled by the COMELEC may be appealed to the Student Judicial Court. The Student Judicial Court will make a decision only with properly filed appeals within fortyeight (48) hours. While cases are pending with the Judicial Council, COMELEC decisions still hold. 3. The Student Judicial Court holds original jurisdiction over cases directly filed against COMELEC Commissioners. COST CEILING Top 4 Positions: P5,000 School Chair and Sec-Treasurer: 3,500 Executive Officer and Central Board Representative: 2,500 Course Representative: P1,000 Block Representative: P300 Accredited Political Parties: P3,000
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