31/08/2022
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR FAIR STUDENT REPUBLIC ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN
1. The appointed Spokesperson of each party shall be the person the SEC will personally and officially communicate with regarding inquiries, permissions, and concerns. The said Spokesperson's Full Name, Course, Year, Section, and contact details should be submitted to the SEC on or before September 1, 2022, if they wish to change their prior representative.
2. The SEC shall allow the candidates to post their campaign materials to the enumerated platforms below.
2. a. Candidates may post personal and digital campaign materials consisting of their biographical information, including still pictures, drawings, motion pictures, or videos, as long as they use the proper hashtags ( , , ) provided by the SEC.
USAGE OF SUCH IS MANDATORY IN EVERY POST.
2. b. Posting of campaign materials outside Facebook shall be prohibited.
2. c. Motion pictures and videos for group Party campaigns shall not be timed. The parties are given free discretion to determine the time limit of said Motion pictures, and videos for individual campaigns shall likewise not be timed.
2. d. The SEC shall limit the online campaigns to the following platforms:
2. d. a. Facebook;
2. d. b. Messenger Room;
2. d. c. Google Meet; and
2. d. d. Zoom.
Note: The party should invite at least three commissioners from the SEC in any meeting called for a purpose through Messenger room, Google Meet, and Zoom.
2. e. Campaign materials must be submitted online to the Student Electoral Committee for approval. Only the Student Electoral Committee, Public Information Office, and Office of Student Affairs and Services can approve the materials that will be eligible for Posting.
2. f. The President, Vice president, Senators, and Department Governors must include their platforms on their campaign video materials.
2. g. The presentation of campaign materials should focus specifically on the qualities and abilities to be a student leader amidst the pandemic. The platform of every political party is the proposed project and solution and is following the mission and vision of the University.
2. h. Election jingles, chants, and other audio campaign forms are allowed but shall refrain from using defamatory, derogatory, sarcastic, insulting, and vulgar language.
3. Parties should have their official page with an official logo and cover page for identification purposes and not on any site.
4. The official campaign period shall on August 31, 2022, 12 Midnight, on the designated social media channels for online campaigning stated above.
4. a. The SEC shall allow online campaigning only until September 4, 2021, 11:59 PM before the commencement of the grand rally, for the party, the candidates, and their respective supporters;
4. b. Each party candidate should remove any campaign/s posted on their Social Media accounts during Online Election Day.
4. c. Any form of campaigning before and after the designated dates are prohibited and will subject the violator to appropriate sanctions and penalties.
5. Once campaigning officially begins, candidates are encouraged to disseminate their campaign materials and opinions on professional issues related to the Student Republic so the electorates can differentiate among the candidates and fully understand their positions.
6. Candidates should promote their qualifications, highlight their accomplishments in an open, honest manner and give the electorates reasons to vote. They are also encouraged to be creative and innovative in their campaign materials, but the same must adhere to the guidelines imposed by the Commission.
7. Premature campaigning shall be prohibited.
7. a. "Premature campaigning" is defined as electioneering conducted before the campaign period,
7. b. "Prohibited period," which shall constitute premature campaigning, shall Start from the announcement of the scheduled election period until the date before the designated campaign period.
7. c. Alleged candidates for premature campaigning shall be met with the appropriate sanction depending on the number and severity of violations committed and circumstances present. If proven guilty and if they become an official candidate as defined understates and reads as follows.
7. c. a. The term "candidate"- refers to aspiring and seeking an elective office who has filed a certificate of candidacy by himself or through an accredited political party. Agroupment, or coalition of parties."
7. c. b. The term "election campaign" or "partisan political activity" refers to an act designed to promote the election or defeat a particular candidate to a public office which shall include:
*Forming organizations, associations, clubs, committees, or other groups of people to solicit votes and undertaking any campaign for or against a candidate;
*Holding political caucuses, conferences, meetings, rallies, parades, or other similar assemblies, to solicit *votes and undertaking any campaign or propaganda for or against a candidate;
*Making speeches, announcements, or commentaries, holding interviews for or against the election of any candidate; or
*Directly or indirectly soliciting vote pledges or support for or against a candidate.
However, public expressions or opinions or discussions relating to the forthcoming elections shall not be construed to mean that a party is campaigning for the election or defeating a particular candidate.
8. In line with the present online election, the following enumerated acts shall also be classified as "election campaign" or partisan political activity" if done by posting, uploading, sharing, or sending information using the internet and shall include:
8. a. Posting, uploading, sharing, or sending Campaign materials outside the campaign sites;
8. b. Posting, uploading, sharing, or sending of old campaign materials used during previous elections;
8. c. Posting, uploading, sharing, or sending pictures, videos, or /documents that shall contain information substantial for electioneering activities.
9. The SEC shall also prohibit the act of "proxy-voting." Proxy, in general, means a person authorized to act or speak for another. In law, a proxy is an agent endowed with authority by the principal to work on the latter's behalf. Hence, proxy-voting is an act authorizing a person to enter the name and password under the authorized system designated for online voting and to vote on behalf of such a person.
ALLOWED:
*Candidates must adhere to the SEC's Guidelines for Online Campaigning, which shall also be followed by anyone campaigning on behalf of a candidate.
*Each party should designate one Spokesperson with whom the SEC will personally and officially communicate regarding inquiries, permissions, and concerns. (See Rule 1)
*Candidates and their supporters shall be allowed to campaign through social media platforms. Still, they shall be limited only to Facebook provided that each post should contain the mandatory hashtags:
( , , )
*Candidates must encourage members to vote.
*Candidates must campaign positively, never disparaging or offering negative comments that may harass other candidates.
*Candidates should promote their qualifications, highlight their accomplishments in an open, honest manner and give the electorates reasons to vote. (See Rule 6)
NOT ALLOWED:
*Premature Campaigning. (See Rule 7)
*The SEC prohibits the action of "partisan political activity." (See Rule 8)
*The SEC prohibits the act of "proxy-voting.” (See Rule 9)
*The contents of ail campaign materials must not contain offensive language, profanity, or explicit or *implicit reference to any illegal activities.
*Facebook comments are being monitored. Avoid making unnecessary statements against the candidates nor start a heated conversation,
*Candidates cannot use social media channels to promote candidacy associated with employers, employees, clients, volunteer groups, or other organizations.
*Candidates are not allowed to use communications and social media channels associated with or owned by the University.
*Candidates are not allowed to tag or mention any University-owned profiles.
*Any form of Campaign is not allowed on Online Election Day.
SANCTIONS:
1. Online endorsements which are not removed beyond the campaign period should be reported to any Commissioners of the Student Electoral Committee. Anybody found violating this rule shall be meted with the appropriate sanction to be imposed by the COMELEC.
2. Premature campaigning before the prescribed period set by the SEC is prohibited and will be dealt with accordingly. Multiple offenses shall be sanctioned severely.
3. Candidates and students who will not adhere to the rules and guidelines stated above shall be subjected to the following sanctions:
a. 1st offense - a warning shall be given to the candidate;
b. 2nd offense - the right to the Campaign of the candidate, shall be momentarily withdrawn for 24 hours;
c. 3rd offense – an automatic disqualification.
4. Offensive campaign materials will be taken down without any prior notice.
5. Candidates and students shall not, in any way, threaten, intimidate, assault or attempt to bribe any SEC Officials. Such acts shall lead to automatic disqualification of the candidate.
According to the Constitutions and By-Laws, any candidates who are found guilty of violating any of the above provisions and the Fair Student Republic Electoral Campaign Rules shall be disqualified.
Approved this 30th day of August 2021 at Conference Meeting via Google Meet App.
APPROVED BY:
NEAL CHRISTIAN B. PACARDO (sgd.)
Chairperson, ISAT U SR SEC 2022
NICOLE KATE JABONILLO (sgd.) CHRISIA MAE BEARE(sgd.)
Co-CHAIRPERSON, ISAT U SR SEC 2022 Co-CHAIRPERSON, ISAT U SR SEC 2022
Commissioners:
ROBERT LOBATON (sgd.)
MELIZA UBALDO (sgd.)
DAVID KHENN LEIGH FUENTES (sgd.)
JOHN QUINLAR GREGORIOS (sgd.) EMILY GOMEZ