THE UST Central Commission on Elections (Comelec) is aiming to complete its proposed amendments to the UST Students’ Election Code (USEC) in time for the next general elections.
John Dexter Aldecoa, vicar in the chamber of chairpersons, said the Central Comelec’s drafted amendments to the election code could be implemented around March or April next year, subject to the approval of the campus administration.
“Technically, the draft is almost finished; we are just waiting for the approvals. But I believe we’re projecting that this will be enforced or enforceable by the next general elections of the University,” Aldecoa said during the commission’s town hall meeting on Friday, Oct. 23.
Amendments to the USEC were handed to the Central Comelec in 2023 by the Central Board as the Student Council constitution also undergoes revisions, according to Aldecoa.
Central Comelec Chairperson Julie Mae Calahi said the proposed code aims to update provisions from the 2011 USEC by establishing clearer structural roles, defined timelines and quasi-judicial mechanisms across university elections. The drafted revisions will remain subject to the approval of the Central Board and the Office for Student Affairs.
“It can still be revised based on the feedback from the Central Board… We’re aiming to have it with the Central Board for signatures by the end of the term,” Calahi told The Flame.
Central Comelec secretary to the adjudicatory Niña Christine Felice Moreno admitted that while Central Board members are ready to participate, gathering signatures from all local council presidents remains a challenge.
“Perhaps the only challenge lies in the logistics of submitting to the Central Board, given the relatively large number of presidents, specifically, obtaining the required signatures,” Moreno told The Flame.
Modified campaign period, online rules
Under the proposed code, regular elections for Central Student Council (CSC) and Local Student Council (LSC) officers must be held no later than the 15th week of the second semester.
Class and section officer elections must be conducted within 24 official days from the opening of each semester, replacing the previous deadline of 21 calendar days. The general campaign period will also be extended from 12 school days to a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of three weeks.
For special elections, local candidates will be given five school days to campaign, higher than the three days allowed under the 2011 code.
The proposed amendments also introduce guidelines for electronic campaign materials and media interviews, alongside revised rules governing campaign posters and other information paraphernalia in accordance with the Student Handbook and Visual Identity Manual.
The draft also seeks to penalize premature campaigning. Recruitment conducted before the prescribed period or involving individuals who are not enrolled students may serve as grounds for non-reaccreditation.
Abstain votes and failure of elections
The proposed code defines “abstain” as a counter-vote expressing a voter’s dissatisfaction with the available candidates and refusal to grant a mandate to any of them.
The draft also outlines conditions for declaring a failure of election. An election for a position would be declared a failure if voter turnout falls below 25% or if a sole candidate fails to meet the prescribed 40% threshold.
Should a special election also result in failure, the CSC Central Board would appoint a committee to handle the vacant post. Candidates who previously ran for the position would be ineligible for appointment.
Revised election result proclamations
The proposed amendments seek to revise the rules governing the proclamation of winning candidates in cases involving pending complaints against political parties, party registration cancellations and vacancies resulting from failure to take the oath of office within 15 school days.
Under the draft, the proclamation of winning candidates belonging to a political party facing an ongoing case will be suspended until a final judgment is issued.
If the party’s registration is canceled, winning candidates found to have known of, consented to, or participated in the offense would be disqualified, leaving their respective positions vacant.
Qualifications of election officials
The proposed code introduces stricter eligibility requirements for election officials to strengthen candidate vetting and institutional neutrality.
Prospective officials must observe a two-semester cooling-off period from local or university-wide student organizations and student councils before their appointment or candidacy. They must also have no membership in any central or local political party within five months before an election or appointment.
Election officials must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.75 and have no record of being found guilty of university misconduct by the Student Welfare and Development Board (SWDB).
Political party registration and accreditation
The proposed revisions intends to overhaul political party registration by replacing year-round recruitment with Comelec-prescribed recruitment periods.
Newly formed parties will undergo conditional registration, granting them temporary juridical personality during recruitment before they can secure full accreditation.
The draft also sets minimum membership requirements for political parties. Central parties must have at least 50 members across five academic units, while local parties must maintain 15 members across all year levels. The minimum number for local parties will be reduced to eight members in colleges with populations of 1,000 students or fewer.
Parties that accept unauthorized external funding or fail to submit their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures within 12 school days may face suspension or cancellation of registration. F
