SPECIAL ORDER No. 01, Series of 2023.

Amendment to the Special Order series of 2023 also known as

USTP-CDO Electoral Commission Special Orders and Guidelines

Explanatory Clause:
The purpose of implementing these Special Order Guidelines is to modify the election
process to the point of the student’s ease with technology and to accommodate the
University’s ever-growing community. These guidelines are also meant to clarify and discuss
the workarounds not indicated in the Omnibus Election Code. Rest assured that these
guidelines are discussed, agreed upon, and corrected by the whole electoral board.

Section 1. Definition of Terms. For the purposes of these guidelines, the following
shall be defined as follows:
1. Organizations – refer to the accredited organization within the University. These
organizations can then be either mother organizations, college organizations, or
extracurricular organizations. For the purpose of having the USTP-CDO EleCom’s
orders be followed by the USG, the USTP-CDO herein shall also be treated as an
organization.
2. Campus - refer to the USTP-CDO campus, unless otherwise stated.
3. Incumbent Retaining Officers – refer to the people elected by an official election who
is not graduating officer for the semester involved in context.
4. Incumbent Graduating Officers – refer to the people elected by an official election
which is a graduating officer for the semester involved in context.
5. Incumbent Appointed Officers – refer to the people appointed both temporarily or
permanently, including OICs, by the power of the executive body or legislative power
to hold office.
 6. Elections – refer to the process of suffrage. The definition of this word shall be rooted
in the Omnibus Student Election Code

Section 2. General Provisions. The following ideals shall be followed in these guidelines:
1. The guidelines herein are not made to supersede the Omnibus Election Code, and the
guidelines stipulated in this document are only meant to be observed in this school
year’s election (AY 2022-2023).
2. Following the principle of impartiality, these guidelines are crafted in the essence of
just and fairness.

Section 3. Qualification of Candidates. Pursuant to Section III Article IV Title V, and

Article V Chapter I Title V of the USTP-CDO Omnibus Election Code and the USTP-
CDO Student Handbook, anyone who seeks an electoral post shall fulfill the following:
1. Must have complied with the school residency requirement of two (2) semesters prior
to the candidacy. Incoming graduating students are not eligible to be elected as
Treasurer or President. Any officer who is on probation status shall no longer be
eligible for candidacy for the next year.
2. Be of good moral character and have not been found guilty in any disciplinary or any
case involving moral turpitude;
3. Does not hold any other office/organization;
4. Must complete at least two (2) consecutive semesters or one academic school year in
the university;
a. Fresh USTP SHS graduates are not qualified to run as though the residency
refers to being enrolled in a College-level degree or diploma.

Section 4. Individual Requirements of Candidates. No student shall be declared as an

official candidate unless he/she shall submit;
 1. 1 pc 2x2 I.D. picture (with white background);
2. A copy of the Original Certificate of Registration (COR) of the Second Semester of
the current school year from PRISMS;
3. Printed and/or scanned grades from USTP-RSIS (Registrar) or PRISMS of the First
Semester of the current school year;
4. Certificate of Good Moral Character from the Office of Student Affairs (to be
requested and verified by ELECOM)
5. A completed form of the Personal Data Sheet (PDS) (provided by the ELECOM)
6. Temporary resignation letter approved by the Moderator (If he/she is currently
holding a position in any organization)
7. Official Facebook Profile

Section 5. Registration Requirement for Political Parties. A party shall be registered

and accomplishing upon submission of a copy of the following:
1. The name and date of formation of the party;
2. Number of members;
3. List of officers with respective addresses and signatures;
4. Official Facebook Page
5. The platform of government;
6. Organizational structure;
7. Present a Program of Receipts and Expenditures from an independent candidate or
political party.

Section 6. Temporary Resignation.

USTP CDO Electoral Commission shall recognize the written document as a formal
notification from an aspiring candidate to temporarily abscond his/her tenure of office if
he/she is currently holding a position from any organization or council. Nevertheless, the
responsibility, obligation, and purpose project of the aspiring candidate shall not be
obstructed or banned during the campaign period, Thus any proposed project of a political
party or individual candidate should not be accomplished during or before the campaign
period it should be executed after the election proper.

Section 7. Disqualification from Running. Failure on the part of any candidate to the USG,
CSCs, and UO positions to comply with any of the requirements specified in this Article shall
be sufficient grounds for disqualification from running.

Section 8. Voting Process

1. The University’s E-Learning Portal (USTeP) will be utilized to allow all students to
exercise their suffrage through hybrid means.
2. Electronic ballots will be uploaded, and will only be opened to the students that are
members of the organization or student council. This will make sure that non-
members will not be able to vote.
3. The information for the voter registration details will be obtained in coordination with
the organization or student council of the current administration.
a. The necessary information that will be obtained from the members will be the
following
i. Name
ii. ID Number
iii. Year Level
iv. Course
b. This information will be used to restrict and give access to specific students
that are members of their organization and student council.

Section 9. Election Period. The elections and campaign period shall last for not more than
five (5) weeks unless extended by the USTP Electoral Commission.
1. First Week Schedule. The schedule of the activities for the first week of the election
calendar shall include disseminating election information and guidelines.
2. Second Week Schedule. The schedule of activities for the second week of the
election calendar shall include the following:
a) Filing of certificates of candidacy,
b) Submission requirements,
c) Submission of the individual platform, as well as the platform of the political party
unless the candidate is running independently, and
d) Submission of accomplished Affidavit of Undertaking (for graduating students).
e) The schedule of activities for the second week of the election calendar shall also l
include the deliberations by the UEC and CECs on protests against the candidates and
the official list of candidates.
3. Campaign Period: Third and Fourth Week Schedule. Schedule of activities for the
third and fourth week
a) Start of the official campaign period;
b) Gatherings, and Miting de Avance Period. USG, Mother Organization and Unit
Organization Miting de Avances, and campaign-related activities that require site or
venue gatherings, will be conducted STRICTLY on the Third Week. They may also
start their Online Campaign.
c) Online/Onsite/Hybrid Campaign. USG, Mother Organization and Unit
Organization Miting de Avances, and campaign-related activities that require site or
venue gatherings, are PROHIBITED on the Fourth Week. The following means of
campaigning will only be only allowed during the Fourth Week: posting and sharing
using the OFFICIAL Party Facebook Page/Facebook Profile, and posting of election
campaign materials on the campus.
d) After the last day of the campaign period, the following operations should cease to
operate or must be removed, but not limited to
1. Posting and sharing new campaign content on their Official Facebook Page
 2. Party members, candidates, and their supporters sharing campaign contents
from a candidate’s or party’s Official Facebook Page or Profile.
3. Visible campaign posters on the campus.
4. Fifth or Last Week Schedule. Schedule of activities for the sixth week:
a) Holding the university convocation to present the USG candidates;
b) Holding college convocations to present the official candidates of each college;
c) Election proper; and
d) Announcement of winners.

Section 10. Campaign Restrictions

The candidates and parties may utilize online, onsite, or hybrid means of
campaigning. There will be restrictions for each.
a. Online Campaign
i. The candidates and parties may only primarily post their campaign
materials on their official Facebook Profile/Page (attached to their
Filing of Candidacy forms).
ii. Their supporters may share their campaign materials, given that:
1. The sharer does not represent a government department, a
business, or any external entity.
2. The sharer respects the election calendar, particularly the
campaign period.
b. Onsite/Campus Campaign
i. The candidates and parties may have their campaign materials printed
and posted on the designated areas inside the campus.
ii. The candidates and parties are not allowed to post their materials
outside the campus.
iii. Their materials may be crafted and posted with any of the following
1. Printed with a maximum size similar to one whole cardboard
 2. Posted with adhesive tapes that do not damage painted walls
3. Leaflets are to be distributed with a size not exceeding an A6-
size paper.
iv. There will be restrictions on the number of posters that can be posted.
1. Each party/independent candidate shall have a maximum of ten
(10) posters on the Campus
v. The party or an individual candidate shall report to their deputy
commissioner, indicating the number of posters and leaflets that they
will be posting or distributing, and also their location.
c. Hybrid Campaign
i. All rules from Online and Onsite campaigning will apply, shall an
individual candidate or a party wishes to choose to campaign by
Hybrid means.

Section 10. Final Provisions. The following shall be observed:

1. The decision of the USTP-CDO ELECOM and the organization’s electoral
commission shall be final and irrevocable.
a. If there exists a conflict between the said parties, following the rule of
hierarchy, the USTP-CDO ELECOM shall have the final decision.

Section 11. Amendments

1. Any amendment or revision to these guidelines shall only be vested to the current
USTP-CDO ELECOM.
2. Amendments or revisions shall be made public as soon as possible.

Section 12. Effectivity

1. These guidelines shall be effective immediately upon the signature of the
commissioners of the USTP-CDO ELECOM.
2. These guidelines shall cease to effect once the USTP-CDO ELECOM shall declare
the contents of these guidelines null and void due to the changing demands of the
situation.

Eric Jeffrey C. Balindres II

USTP-CDO Chief Electoral Commissioner

Mafel Jumuad
USTP-CDO ELECOM, SCEA Deputy Commissioner

Froilan Callo II
USTP-CDO ELECOM, SCITC Deputy Commissioner

Rey Galasanay II
USTP-CDO ELECOM, SCOT Deputy Commissioner

Sofia Ann Sarino

USTP-CDO ELECOM, SCSM Deputy Commissioner

Jims Clyde T. Cabasagan

USTP-CDO ELECOM, SCSTE Deputy Commissioner

Kyla Tresha A. Meñoza

USTP-CDO ELECOM, FAESO Deputy Commissioner