CAMPAIGN MANUAL 2017 For any concerns, please contact: 09353819376 Wilbert Jan R. Liao Logistics Commissioner Ateneo Commission on Elections
Table of Contents Campaign Policy 3 I. Campaign Period 3 II. Campaign Guidelines 3 A. Tangible Campaign Paraphernalia 4 B. Non-tangible Campaign Paraphernalia 7 C. Endorsements 9 D. Non-Traditional Campaign Paraphernalia 10 III. Campaigning for Political Parties and Coalitions 10 IV. Confiscated Campaign Paraphernalia 10 Election Proper 11 I. Campaign Decorum 11 II. Authorized Personnel Allowed At The Voting Areas 11 Candidate Responsibility and Culpability 11 I. Candidates Responsibility Towards Their Supporters 11 II. Party Chairperson s Responsibility Towards Party Members 11 III. Sanctions 11 IV. Complaints, Inquiries, Appeals and Protests 12 V. Appeals to the Student Judicial Court 12 1
Campaign Policy I. Campaign Period a. The processing and approval of campaign paraphernalia will begin on March 6, 2017 b. The Campaign Period will begin March 11, 2017 and will last until March 24, 2017. Approved campaign paraphernalia may only be released and distributed during this period. c. Candidates shall be held responsible for removing all their campaign paraphernalia 1 after the Election Period ends. All campaign paraphernalia must be removed before March 31, 2017. Internet campaigning 2 and text messaging shall also be prohibited during the election period. All violations of this policy will be sanctioned accordingly. II. Campaign Guidelines a. Only those with official COMELEC Stamp/Sticker can be posted or distributed. b. Giveaways such as shirts, button pins, caps, lanyards/id lace, notebooks, bookmarks, stickers, magnets, ballers, and the like are not allowed for campaign purposes. Candidates and their supporters are likewise prohibited from wearing or using such items bearing coalitions or candidates names and/or the positions they are running for, slogans, or any print that may be construed as campaign related. c. Any campaign using mass media (i.e. television, radio, newspapers) is strictly prohibited. Violation of this policy shall be sanctioned accordingly. d. The use of OSA Public Announcement (PA) System is NOT allowed. e. Party/Coalition names and Party logos should only be seen in approved campaign paraphernalia unless approved under non-traditional campaign. f. The OSA and DSWS s rules 3 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 Ateneo COMELEC. g. Replacements of campaign materials posted already must undergo the same procedures for approval as that of the materials to be replaced. All materials to be replaced have to be presented to the Ateneo COMELEC office before the new 1 1 Campaign paraphernalia include, but are not limited to, posters, teasers, tarpaulins and grill tarpaulins posted on campus, as well as body tags worn by supporters. 2 2 Internet campaigning is hereby defined as sharing video clips, posting or entering as one s status endorsements of candidates, as well as having campaign materials and/or identifiable parts of campaign materials as profile pictures and/or cover photos, Therefore, once election proper starts, individual profile pictures and/or cover photos should have been changed, video clips should have been made inaccessible, and fan pages should have no activity whatsoever (no additional posts, no changing of pictures, and no other acts that allow the fan page to go up the news feed.) Deletion of previous posts is not necessary. 3 3 PMD Manual of DSWS: http://bit.ly/dsws_pmd-manual 2
materials are approved. Take note that the replacement materials should still be within the specified quantity ceilings. A. Tangible Campaign Paraphernalia All Tangible Campaign Paraphernalia must contain all election dates (March 27 29, 2017) and poll stations (TBA 4 ). The Commission shall not approve any and all materials that would fail to comply with this condition. 1. Tarpaulins a. Size: 3 x 7 b. Applicable to: All Accredited Political Parties, Coalitions, and Candidates Running for President, and Vice-President c. Quantity Ceiling: i. President 2 ii. Vice-President 1 iii. Coalitions 1 iv. Accredited Political Parties 1 d. Guidelines: i. Accomplish the Campaign Plan and Proposal Form accessible through this link: http://ateneocomelec.weebly.com/ Expect to receive a confirmation email within 48 hours. If no reply has been received, kindly email us at officialateneocomelec@gmail.com. ii. You may produce the tangible campaign paraphernalia upon approval of the campaign proposal. iii. Submit produced campaign paraphernalia for final approval and stamping at MVP 010 (Operations Room). iv. Reserve lampposts through Ateneo COMELEC upon submitting the produced tarpaulins or upon claiming the approved tarpaulins. v. Claim them 24 hours after submission. If unclaimed after another 24 hours, the Commission reserves the right to dispose of them. e. Reminders: i. Should be used strictly for the promotion of the whole coalition or political party. ii. Use Nylon Strings in putting up the tarpaulins. Other materials are not allowed. iii. Available lampposts, for tarpaulins, are limited. Therefore, choosing of lampposts shall be on a first-come-first served basis. 2. Grille Tarpaulins a. Size: 6 x 3 b. Applicable to: All Accredited Political Parties c. Quantity Ceiling: i. Accredited Political Parties 1 d. Guidelines: 4 The Polling Stations shall be announced in the Candidates Group Page. 3
i. Accomplish the Campaign Plan and Proposal Form accessible through this link: http://ateneocomelec.weebly.com/ Expect to receive a confirmation email within 48 hours. If no reply has been received, kindly email us at officialateneocomelec@gmail.com. ii. You may produce the tangible campaign paraphernalia upon approval of the campaign proposal. iii. Submit produced campaign paraphernalia for final approval and stamping. iv. Reserve grilles through Ateneo COMELEC upon submitting the produced grille tarpaulins or upon claiming the approved grille tarpaulins. v. Claim them 24 hours after submission. If unclaimed after another 24 hours, the Commission reserves the right to dispose of them. e. Reminders: i. Should be used strictly for the promotion of the whole political party. ii. Use Nylon Strings in putting up the grille tarpaulins. Other materials are not allowed. iii. Available lampposts, for grilles, are limited. Therefore, choosing of grilles shall be on a first-come-first served basis. 3. Posters a. Size: 8.3 x 11.7 (A4) to 11.69" x 16.53" (A3) b. Applicable to: All accredited political parties and candidates except for Course Representatives c. Quantity Ceiling: i. President 12 ii. Vice-President 12 iii. School Representatives 5 iv. Accredited Political Parties 8 d. Guidelines: i. Accomplish the Campaign Plan and Proposal Form accessible through this link: http://ateneocomelec.weebly.com/ Expect to receive a confirmation email within 48 hours. If no reply has been received, kindly email us at officialateneocomelec@gmail.com. ii. You may produce the tangible campaign paraphernalia upon approval of the campaign proposal. iii. Submit produced campaign paraphernalia for final approval and stamping. iv. Submit completed DSWS poster approval form together with the paraphernalia. v. Claim them 24 hours after submission. If unclaimed after another 24 hours, the Commission reserves the right to dispose of them. e. Reminders: i. Posters containing other coalitions or other parties name and members are also prohibited. 4
ii. Candidates and accredited political parties may replace posters already posted provided that the quantity ceiling is still observed and approved by Ateneo COMELEC. iii. Cloth, illustration boards, and plastic materials to be used as posters are not allowed. iv. It is the candidates responsibility to seek permission from people concerned when posting on org boards. 4. Teasers a. Size: 8.27"x 5.85" (half of A4) to 8.3 x 11.7 (A4) b. Applicable to: All accredited political parties and candidates c. Quantity Ceiling: i. President 28 ii. Vice-President 28 iii. School Representatives 14 iv. Course Representatives 10 v. Accredited Political Parties 16 d. Guidelines: i. Accomplish the Campaign Plan and Proposal Form accessible through this link: http://ateneocomelec.weebly.com/ Expect to receive a confirmation email within 48 hours. If no reply has been received, kindly email us at officialateneocomelec@gmail.com. ii. You may produce the tangible campaign paraphernalia upon approval of the campaign proposal. iii. Submit produced campaign paraphernalia for final approval and stamping. iv. Claim them 24 hours after submission. If unclaimed after another 24 hours, the Commission reserves the right to dispose of them. e. Reminders: i. Teasers containing other coalitions or other parties name and members are also prohibited. ii. Candidates and accredited political parties may replace teasers already posted provided that the quantity ceiling is still observed and approved by Ateneo COMELEC. iii. Cloth, illustration boards, and plastic materials to be used as teasers are not allowed. iv. The candidate may post teasers on org boards without the permission of the org to which they shall put their teaser on, provided that they place it at the bottom three (3) inches of the org board only. 5. Body Tags a. Size: 2-4.5" x 2-4.5" b. Applicable to: All accredited political parties and candidates c. Quantity Ceiling: i. President 360 ii. Vice-President 360 5
iii. School Representatives 280 iv. Course Representatives 40 v. Accredited Political Parties 120 d. Guidelines: i. Accomplish the Campaign Plan and Proposal Form accessible through this link: http://ateneocomelec.weebly.com/ Expect to receive a confirmation email within 48 hours. If no reply has been received, kindly email us at officialateneocomelec@gmail.com. ii. You may produce the tangible campaign paraphernalia upon approval of the campaign proposal. iii. Submit produced campaign paraphernalia for final approval and stamping. iv. Claim them 24 hours after submission. If unclaimed after another 24 hours, the Commission reserves the right to dispose of them. e. Reminders: i. Body tags containing other coalitions or other parties name and members are also prohibited. ii. Metal, Cloth, and sticker Body Tags are not allowed. iii. Laminated body tags are allowed but the lamination is included in the size requirement of body tags. B. Non-tangible Campaign Paraphernalia All Non-tangible Campaign Paraphernalia must contain all election dates (March 27 29, 2017) and poll stations (TBA). The Commission shall not approve any and all materials that would fail to comply with this condition. Proper decorum should be observed at all times. Complaints regarding any form of non-tangible campaign paraphernalia shall be immediately looked into and acted upon decisively by the Ateneo COMELEC. 1. Email IM, SMS a. Guidelines: i. Declare the plans and scripts of any non-tangible campaign paraphernalia though the online Campaign Plan and Proposal Form accessible through this link: http://ateneocomelec.weebly.com/. Expect to receive a confirmation email within 48 hours. If no reply has been received, kindly email us at officialateneocomelec@gmail.com. b. Reminders: i. Each candidate, political party and coalition is allowed to send electronic messages, such as emails, for the duration of the campaign period. ii. Email, IM, SMS should contain all election dates (March 27 29, 2017) and poll stations (TBA). Submitted plans and scripts would not be approved if candidates fail to comply with this condition. 6
iii. No limit is imposed on the number of messages to be sent. iv. Ateneo COMELEC recognizes that the efficient monitoring of online messages and text messages to be used for campaign purposes is highly unworkable. For this reason, the candidates are required 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. 2. Classroom-to-Classroom Campaigning a. Guidelines: i. Declare the plans and scripts of any non-tangible campaign paraphernalia though the online Campaign Plan and Proposal Form accessible through this link: http://ateneocomelec.weebly.com/. Expect to receive a confirmation email within 48 hours. If no reply has been received, kindly email us at officialateneocomelec@gmail.com. b. Reminders: i. ALL campaign paraphernalia, both traditional and non-traditional, should include all election dates and poll stations. Candidates who fail to comply with this condition shall be sanctioned accordingly. ii. Classroom-to-classroom campaigns will be randomly monitored by Ateneo COMELEC representatives. iii. Make your own personal arrangements with the teachers in whose classes you want to campaign. 3. Mass Action a. Guidelines: i. Declare the plans and scripts of any non-tangible campaign paraphernalia though the online Campaign Plan and Proposal Form accessible through this link: http://ateneocomelec.weebly.com/. Expect to receive a confirmation email within 48 hours. If no reply has been received, kindly email us at officialateneocomelec@gmail.com. b. Reminders: i. Candidates, accredited political parties and coalitions are responsible for seeking permission to hold mass actions from concerned offices. ii. Approved documents should be submitted to the Commission at least 48 hours before the planned mass action. 4. Video Campaigning a. Guidelines: i. Declare the plans and scripts of any non-tangible campaign paraphernalia though the online Campaign Plan and Proposal Form accessible through this link: http://ateneocomelec.weebly.com/. Expect to receive a confirmation email within 48 hours. If no reply has been received, kindly email us at officialateneocomelec@gmail.com. b. Reminders: i. Video Campaigning is for accredited political parties, coalitions, and 7
ii. iii. individual candidates. Videos should contain all election dates and poll stations. The Commission shall not approve videos that would fail to comply with this condition. Videos should only be 30 seconds 2 minutes long. Anything longer will not be approved by the Commission. C. Endorsements Endorsements are official statements to endorse candidates on behalf or as an officer of an organization. 1. Who may endorse: a. 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. b. Any organization recognized by COA may endorse a party or candidate to the Sanggunian. 2. Who may not endorse: a. Sanggunian officers who are also running in the 2017 General Elections cannot endorse other candidates in their capacity as officers of the Sanggunian. b. Presidents of auxiliary bodies like COA, ARSA, and DSWS, including the auxiliary bodies as well, are not allowed to endorse candidates in their official capacities as heads of Sanggunian bodies. 3. Coalitions are not allowed to seek endorsements 4. Type of Endorsements: a. Tarpaulins, Body Tags, Posters, Grille Tarpaulins, and or Teasers i. The body tags, posters, and teasers will be considered as part of and included in the count of campaign materials of the candidate or any accredited party. ii. Therefore, the campaign materials should be in accordance with the requirements stated in this manual. Endorsement campaign materials should be submitted to the Ateneo COMELEC for approval. b. Mass Actions i. 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. ii. Mass actions should not coincide with any of the sponsoring organization s special events or projects like movie premiers, concerts, org weeks, bazaars, and the like. c. Campaign Videos i. Endorsing organizations may sponsor or create campaign videos for a candidate or political party. These videos must be in accordance with the requirements stated in this manual. ii. Campaign videos should not be shown/screened at any of the 8
sponsoring organization s special events or projects like movie premiers, concerts, org weeks, bazaars, and the like. Endorsement campaign videos should be submitted to COMELEC for approval. 5. Guidelines: a. Fill up Endorsement Form (Form 9) for endorsements accessible through this link: http://ateneocomelec.weebly.com/ b. Submit the form to Ateneo COMELEC through email (officialateneocomelec@gmail.com) at least twenty-four (24) hours before any endorsement. c. Submit everything else required to COMELEC for the corresponding type of endorsement. D. Non-Traditional Campaign Paraphernalia All campaign paraphernalia should contain all election dates and poll stations. Submitted plans and scripts would not be approved if candidates fail to comply with this condition. 1. Applicable to: All accredited political parties and candidates 2. Not applicable to: Coalitions 3. Guidelines: a. Declare the plans, nature and description of the campaign on the third page of the online Campaign Plan and Proposal Form accessible through this link: http://ateneocomelec.weebly.com/ b. Expect to receive a confirmation email within 48 hours. If no reply has been received, kindly email us at officialateneocomelec@gmail.com. 4. Reminders: a. Non-traditional campaign paraphernalia are subject to the approval of Ateneo COMELEC. III. Campaigning for Political Parties and Coalitions 1. Accredited Political Parties Candidates from the same party may share campaign materials. Any and all materials that shall be counted towards a particular candidate s allowable number should be signed by the candidate. 2. Coalitions Aside from having the privilege to post 1 tarpaulin, coalitions shall not be allowed to release additional materials. However, coalition members are allowed to campaign with each other, share campaign materials, and platforms. Shared campaign materials shall be counted against the quantity ceiling of a particular member of the coalition. IV. Confiscated Campaign Paraphernalia * NOTE: All tangible campaign paraphernalia must be removed before March 31, 2017. Sanctions for confiscated campaign paraphernalia will be as follows: 9
a. Posters & Teasers: Minor Violation will be given if at least one is confiscated, but will turn into a major violation if the number of confiscated posters reaches 50% of quantity ceiling. b. Tarpaulins and Grille Tarpaulins: Minor Violation c. Body Tags: Minor Violation will be given if the number of confiscated body tags reaches 20% of the quantity ceiling, but will turn into a major violation if it reaches 50%. Election Proper I. Campaign Decorum Candidates are strictly prohibited from campaigning, especially within the vicinity of the voting area. They are requested not to stay near the area except when casting votes. The designated Ateneo COMELEC representatives have the authority to request candidates who show inappropriate behavior to leave the area. During the election period, campaign materials and other forms of campaign are not allowed on the polling stations and three (3) feet beyond the perimeter, to be designated by the Ateneo COMELEC. II. Authorized Personnel Allowed At The Voting Areas Other than voters casting votes, only authorized people may stay at the voting areas. These people include Ateneo COMELEC Commissioners, Associate Commissioners, poll officers on duty, and authorized Student Judicial Court Representative. Candidate Responsibility and Culpability I. Candidates Responsibility Towards Their Supporters Candidates must attempt to control their supporters and ensure that their supporters are aware of the campaign rules set by the Commission. Violations shall lead to the sanctioning of the candidate, party, or coalition. II. 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. III. Sanctions Pursuant to Article VI Section 4 of the Electoral Code 2017 the following sanctions shall be given to violating candidates, parties or coalitions: 1. Sanctions for individual candidates may be in the form of: a. Cutting the allowed number of campaign materials b. Cutting of quantity ceiling c. Public announcement concerning the violation 10
d. Written Public Apology e. Disqualification f. Hold Order g. Other sanctions as Ateneo COMELEC sees fit 2. Sanctions for political parties may be in the form of: a. Taking away of the privilege of campaign material sharing b. Cutting the allowed number of campaign materials c. Cutting of quantity ceiling d. Public announcement concerning the violation e. Written Public Apology f. Cancellation of Accreditation g. Other sanctions as Ateneo COMELEC sees fit 3. Sanctions for coalitions may be in the form of: a. Cutting the allowed number of campaign materials or quantity ceiling b. Public announcement concerning the violation c. Public Apology d. Other sanctions as Ateneo COMELEC sees fit IV. Complaints, Inquiries, Appeals and Protests a. Complaints, inquiries, appeals or protests must be directed to the Ateneo COMELEC in an official letter submitted in triplicate form or filed to the official Ateneo COMELEC email (Refer to Article VI, Section 5 of the Electoral Code 2017 for further details regarding this.) b. All necessary evidence for complaints shall be provided by the individual, party, or coalition forwarding the complaint, inquiry, appeal, or protest. c. Immediate decision and action shall be taken by the Ateneo COMELEC only with properly filed complaints, inquiries, appeals, or protests within twenty-four (24) hours. d. Complaints must be done professionally. The use of, but not limited to, foul language, aggressive action/s meant to hurt, and verbal harassment will strictly not be tolerated. Failure to do so will merit the concerned candidate, political party, and/or complainant a major violation and possibly a case filed to the SJC. V. Appeals to the Student Judicial Court a. The Student Judicial Court holds appellate jurisdiction over matters involving constitutionally, legality, or jurisdiction of acts, policies, resolutions, and decisions of the Ateneo COMELEC. b. Matters previously ruled by the Ateneo COMELEC may be appealed to the Student Judicial Court. The Student Judicial Court will make a decision only with properly filed appeals within forty-eight (48) hours. While cases are still pending with the Judicial Council, the decisions of Ateneo COMELEC still hold. c. The Student Judicial Court holds original jurisdiction over cases directly filed against Ateneo COMELEC and/or its Commissioners. 11