Title
1st Philippine Election Act of 1935
Law
Acts No. 4203
Decision Date
Jul 23, 1935
Act No. 4203 established regulations and procedures for the first Philippine election for President, Vice President, and Members of the National Assembly, ensuring a fair and organized electoral process.

Law Summary

Date and Governing Provisions of the Election

  • Election date set for September 17, 1935.
  • Governed by the Philippine Constitution, this Act, and applicable parts of the existing Election Law that do not conflict with this Act.
  • Penal provisions of the Election Law apply to violations during this election.

Candidacies and Eligibility

  • Public officers in the executive or judicial branch automatically vacate their office upon filing their certificate of candidacy.
  • No person may run for or be eligible for more than one office under this election.
  • Filing for multiple offices invalidates candidacy for all.

Certificates of Candidacy

  • Must be signed and sworn to by the candidate personally.
  • Filed with the Department of the Interior at least 40 days before the election.
  • Certificates must not include nicknames or aliases.

Special Provisions for Special Provinces

  • Provincial boards in special provinces, supervised by the Secretary of the Interior, act as municipal councils to organize election precincts, polling places, and appoint election officers when necessary.
  • Municipal councils retain their actions in regular municipalities.

Designation of Municipal Districts for Voting

  • Voters in certain municipalities assigned to specific legislative districts (Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, La Union) for election purposes.

Legislative Districts in Mountain Province

  • Mountain Province divided into three legislative districts for National Assembly elections.
  • District compositions defined by municipal districts and subprovinces.

Election of Assembly Members in Cotabato, Lanao, and Sulu

  • Members elected by local government officials (present and former) and provincial officials residing in the province.
  • Special registration and voting procedures apply, including separate ballots and counting.

Election Precincts and Voting Places

  • Existing precincts and polling places remain unless changed for good cause by municipal councils before August 1, 1935.

Appointment of Election Officers

  • Municipal councils appoint three election inspectors and one poll clerk per precinct, plus substitutes.
  • Two inspectors and poll clerk from the party with the largest vote in 1934; one inspector from the next largest party.
  • New political parties presenting presidential candidates may be granted a fourth inspector.
  • Inspectors and clerks nominated by party representatives.
  • Protests must appear in official returns.

Revision and Registration of Voters

  • Boards of election inspectors revise voter lists and register new voters on August 9-10, 1935.
  • Names of ineligible voters (not meeting constitutional qualifications, disqualified, imprisoned) are stricken.
  • Illiterate voters may register if they prove literacy on registration days.

Voting by Mail for Confined Voters

  • Voters confined to leper colonies who meet qualifications may register and vote by mail.
  • Secretary of the Interior may enact additional rules for secret and honest balloting for such voters.

Judicial Proceedings on Voter Lists

  • Judicial inclusion/exclusion cases are free and must be filed by August 24, 1935.
  • Final decisions must be rendered by September 6, 1935.
  • Final meeting of boards of election inspectors on September 7, 1935, for list corrections.

Compensation for Election Personnel

  • Election inspectors and poll clerks paid four pesos per day of service.

Ballot Regulations

  • Uniform ballots throughout the Philippine Islands except Cotabato, Lanao, and Sulu.
  • Ballots shall have no printing on the back.
  • Ballot stubs numbered consecutively within municipalities.

Ballot Preparation

  • Voters must prepare their own ballots.
  • No assistance allowed, except voting for National Assembly members in Cotabato, Lanao, and Sulu.
  • Ballots prepared with assistance or using nicknames/aliases are void.

Counting Votes and Certification

  • Board of canvassers certifies election results for Members of the National Assembly.
  • Election returns for President and Vice-President sent in triplicate to Secretaries of Senate, House, and Interior.
  • Legislature meets 30 days post-election to publicly count and certify votes for President and Vice-President.

Transmission of Election Documents

  • Bureau of Posts must transmit election returns and related documents without delay and free of charge.

Assumption of Office

  • Elected President, Vice-President, and Members of the National Assembly assume office immediately after proclamation by the U.S. President.

Appropriation

  • Eight hundred thousand pesos appropriated for election expenses from the Insular Treasury.

Repealing Clause

  • All inconsistent laws or parts thereof are repealed upon approval of this Act.

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