February
2009
Shorter voters’ registration means disenfranchisement Extend registration period to January 2010, COMELEC urged0
NEWS RELEASE
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
