Composing more than 45 percent of the electorates in the country, millennial voters are being rallied by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to register before the September 29 deadline set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the 2019 midterm elections.
DILG Spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Jonathan E. Malaya, urges the Filipino youth who are at least 18 years old to give time in going to a local Comelec office to apply for new registration or reactivation in case their registration record became deactivated due to failure to vote in two successive regular elections.
Noting that the voter registration for the 2019 polls started on July 2 or more than two months ago, Malaya enjoins unregistered youth voters to avoid last-minute syndrome of registering on the day of the deadline or close to the closing date.
“Sa ating mga mamamayan, iwaksi na po natin ang ugaling ‘mamaya na.’ Voting is the most concrete way for the people to participate in democracy and change the course of governance by electing candidates whom they believe will lead our national and local governments with integrity and competency. Iyong mga matino, mahusay, at maaasahan,” he points out.
The DILG Spokesperson prods newly elected Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to mobilize their fellow youths to do voter registration before September 29 and actually cast their votes on May 13, 2019.
“SK officials are the models of youths in communities. Inform and inspire them of the power of right of suffrage, their right to choose, which in our colonial history was limited to elites or male citizens,” he says.
The basic requirements to be an eligible Filipino voter, aside from being at least 18 years old, is to be a resident of the Philippines for at least one year and of the city or municipality wherein he or she intends to vote for at least six months prior to an election. Registrants are required to bring a valid identification card with photograph and signature when going to a Comelec office.
“Your vote on May 13 will have lasting impact on the political and socioeconomic future of our localities and our country. Kayo ang pipili ng mamumuno sa gobyerno na silang magpapasa ng mga batas, magpapatupad ng mga programang makakaapekto sa atin at magpapasya sa paggastos ng pondong galing sa ating mga buwis,” Malaya emphasizes.
“So be sure to be a registered voter for the May 13 polls. Do it for yourself, for your family and friends, for our country. Sabi nga nila #YOLO, you only live once. And every three years, #YOVO, you only vote once for national and local elections,” he says.
Whilst the special barangay and SK elections will be held in Marawi City on September 22, Comelec announced that Marawi is exempted from the voter registration being conducted nationwide for the 2019 midterm polls as the city is still undergoing rehabilitation after the five-month siege last year.
According the Commission’s statistics, out of the 54,363,844 2016 registered voters for the 2016 elections, 24,730,013 or more than 45 percent were aged 18 to 34 years old. The total voter turnout in the 2016 elections was 81.95 percent. —DILGCO