The right to vote and the UN Human Rights Committee
By Atty. Harry Roque Jr.
May. 23, 2013

Civil society groups filed this month an unprecedented Communication with the United Nations Human Rights Committee in Geneva alleging violation of their right to vote pursuant to Art. 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The said article provides that “every citizen shall have the right to vote which shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors.”

The right to vote, according to the Committee in its General Comment 25, include guaranteeing the “ security of ballot boxes” and that “votes should be counted in the presence of the candidates or their agents.” The Committee further opined “there should be independent scrutiny of the voting and counting process so that electors have confidence in the security of the ballot and the counting of the votes”.

The Human Rights Committee is a body of experts tasked with monitoring states’ compliance with their obligations under the Covenant. The Philippines, as a party to the Additional Protocol to the ICCPR, has recognized the competence of the Committee to receive communications from citizens about their state’s breach or non-compliance with their treaty obligations. The latest view expressed by the Committee against the Philippines was a result of the communication made by Alexander

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