The Philippine Educators Alliance for Community Empowerment (PEACE) Party-list hailed the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to extend voter registration by three more weeks, saying this would “help ensure that the youth who are increasingly willing to exercise their right to vote” would not be disenfranchised.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa Comelec sa pag-extend ng voter registration. We are seeing on the ground that many of our youth are braving the threat of Covid-19 in order to register. This extension means that they will not be going home disappointed and disillusioned,” PEACE Party-list President Marie Paz T. Abante said.
Of the 60.46 million Filipinos who have already registered as of July, 31.41 million voters belong in the age group of 18-40 years old, which is classified as the youth vote.
The Comelec En Banc on Wednesday unanimously approved the extension of voter registration for the 2022 national elections beyond the initial September 30 deadline.
After a hiatus from October 1 to 8 for the filing of certificates of candidacy of aspiring candidates, voter registration would resume from October 11 to 30.
Abante said that with the extension, “our momentum in enticing younger Filipinos to vote would not be halted just when it is gaining ground.”
“Despite the difficulties in mobility because of the pandemic, younger Filipinos are trooping to Comelec offices to register. They should be accommodated as much as possible because the incoming elections are actually their elections, with more than half of the voting population comprised of the youth sector,” Abante, a long-time educator, said.
According to the Comelec, the youth make up 52 percent of the country’s total registered voters.
According to the Comelec, the youth make up 52 percent of the country’s total registered voters. Of the 60.46 million Filipinos who have already registered as of July, 31.41 million voters belong in the age group of 18-40 years old, which is classified as the youth vote.
PEACE Party-list’s chairman for its Committee on Community Programs, Bishop Rodolfo Juan for his part called on local government units to assist local Comelec offices in making the process more bearable for registrants.
“Ngayong dinadagsa na ang mga opisina ng Comelec ng mga nais magpa-rehistro, malaki ang maitutulong ng mga pasilidad gaya ng tent, upuan, industrial fans, at iba pa para naman maibsan ang pagpapasakit ng mga nagre-rehistro at masiguro na ligtas at maayos ang proseso,” said Juan.
