COMELEC SHOULD EXTEND REGISTRATION FOR YOUTH

This a News release from Kabataang Pinoy urging the COMELEC to extend registration to first time voters. We are reposting it here to help the cause to inform the youth and those who are not yet registered voters to make the first step to activly participate in our electoral process and be an active force in shaping our future.

Shorter voters’ registration means disenfranchisement
Extend registration period to January 2010, COMELEC urged

22 February 2009

Youth group Kabataang Pinoy today criticized the decision of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to cut short the period for voters’ registration for the 2010 elections to October 21 instead of December 15.

Kabataang Pinoy Spokesman Vencer Crisostomo said COMELEC’s recent move could significantly impede registration of first-time voters as well as the re-registration of eligible citizens.

“Shorter registration means massive voter disenfranchisement. By resetting the deadline for registration two months earlier, COMELEC is shoving away two million potential young, first-time voters, not to mention a significant number of eligible Filipino adults who have not yet registered and voted in an election,” Crisostomo said.

“COMELEC is mistaken about its priorities. While it is important to prepare for the automation project, it is equally vital that COMELEC ensure an inclusive electoral process that would protect the right of all qualified voters to suffrage. The Commission should not pit these two against each other,” he pointed out.

“COMELEC should even extend the registration up to January 2010, if it wants higher voters’ turnout and participation in the coming elections,” he said.

Online registration during school enrollment sought

Meanwhile, Crisostomo said COMELEC should come up with more creative ways of encouraging potential voters to register for the 2010 elections.

“COMELEC should reach out more and make the registration process easier and more accessible to people by conducting more satellite registration in schools, public markets and business centers.”

Crisostomo also urged COMELEC to explore the possibility of conducting an online registration and hold it simultaneously with school enrollment. He said the system had already been used in some colleges in the United States where students can also register to vote when they enlist for classes online.

Kabataang Pinoy is a socio-civic group aimed at empowering the youth by promoting social involvement and awareness on national and sectoral issues. #

Reference: Vencer Crisostomo, 09224290258