On-site registration pushed for youth voters

INSTEAD of enduring the long lines in order to register as voters, Cebu youths will be given a chance to register in their campuses for next year’s elections.

National Youth Commission (NYC) official Erwin Andaya said the on-site registration will encourage more youths to sign up and vote in the 2013 elections.

“There will be an on-site registration to campuses and universities in Cebu City that will also encourage youth, especially students of voting age to register for the 2013 election,” Andaya told Cebu Daily News.

Along with on-site registration, Andaya said they plan to integrate “political education” in the school curriculum for this coming school year.

Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon said he will propose an ordinance requesting the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the approval of on-site registration.

“Give me two weeks to work on that starting today,” Dizon told Cebu Daily News.

Dizon said the on-site registration activity will “not tap local government units to prevent political color.” “It’s a civic society led campaign,” the councilor said.

Barangay Luz officials lent their support, said Manuel Salinggahay, adviser of the Barangay Luz Youth Development Council.  He said they will also conduct voters’ education, teaching them to vote the right candidates.

“We will teach them new politics, to vote for candidates based on their platform and not because of their popularity,” Salinggahay said.

Dizon said 60 percent of the population constitute youth voters.

Andaya said the youth have key roles to play in nation-building, civic and political participation. Registering and voting are two ways of assuming active roles in society.

“This will be a change of mindset, that one vote will create change,” Dumabok said. Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao