By Francis Allan L. Angelo
The United Nations Population Fund reported that the Philippines now has the largest generation of young people in its history.
It is estimated that 40 million Filipinos from ages 18 to 39 will be eligible to vote in the 2022 elections. In the 2019 elections, Commission on Elections (Comelec) figures showed that more than half of the registered voters were millennials or Gen Z.
As of June 2021, around 60 million voters have already registered for the 2022 national and local elections and the Comelec aims to register around four million first-time voters.
The voter registration closes in September, and the next two months are crucial in reaching that target.
In a recent media forum, Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez highlighted the significance of the youth’s vote, citing voter statistics during the 2019 elections, where the youth voter turnout reached over 22 million, or 35 percent of the total.
“In 2019 the 12th senator who clinched the seat had 14.5 million votes. Let’s go back to 2016, we were able to elect a president with 16 million votes. How about 22 million alone? This means that you have the power to shape our next government. The youth will decide who will win in next year’s elections,” Jimenez explained.
According to Comelec rules, new voters must be 18 years old on or before the May 9, 2022 elections. They must be a resident of the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein he or she plans to vote for at least six months before the elections.
The potential of the youth to influence the outcome of the 2022 elections prompted iLead Trainings, Daily Guardian and Prometheus to initiate iVote.
Anchored on the tagline “iVote to see change. To be the change, iLead,” the iVote program includes a series of activities and projects centered to fuel Voter Registration, Voter Education, Voter Empowerment, and Voter Participation.
Its main objective is to tap first-time or inactive voters to exercise their rights to vote for the upcoming 2022 Philippine National Elections.
The movement believes that taking part in choosing a new set of leaders in the country is one step in making sure that every Filipino has a fair share in enjoying the pleasure of a bright future. This would also help the Comelec achieve the desired number of registered voters on or before the deadline they set, September 30.
iVote’s activities include:
-Satellite registration to serve those who are financially constrained to travel, and to provide accessibility for registrants;
-Voters Education Webinars that will focus on enlightening and educating the youth participants on the importance of their right to vote, spread awareness and discuss relevant information on how we can exercise our right to suffrage and on how to be critically enlightened, educated, and empowered voters;
-HINUN-ÁNON: iVOTE (Ala Siyete y Media Series), the official monthly talk series of iLead Trainings airing every last Friday of the month, at 7:30 pm. This project of iLead’s Media Team aims to utilize entertainment as both an educational and awareness platform for the viewers. Hinun-ánon is a Hiligaynon term which refers to thoughts, ideas, or the exchange of views on a particular matter. The episodes will focus on the significance of registering as a voter, and on how essential exercising one’s right to vote would impact and reflect on the future of our nation;
-Town Hall & Public Forum that will bring together representatives from private partners, socio-civic organizations, schools, key opinion leaders, COMELEC, and other sectors that are playing significant roles in championing voter registration, education, empowerment, and participation;
-Social Media Awareness which will use technology to advance the of Voter Registration, Voter Empowerment, and Voter Participation.
iVote will be virtually launched on July 30, 6 p.m. with exciting guests for the panel discussion. Register here: https://bit.ly/iVote-Launching-RegForm.
The panelists include Jo Jan Paul J. Peñol, former commissioner of the National Youth Commission; Ma. Angelica Bianca B. Requinto, Pambansang Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan president and ex-officio member of the Iloilo provincial board; and Lcid Crescent D. Fernandez, Vice President for External of Daily Guardian and Chief Executive Officer of Prometheus.
To date, more than 50 socio-civic organizations and student councils have signed up to join the initiative.
The initiative is also in partnership with the Sangguniang Kabataan Province of Iloilo, Tyempo Naton Movement, JCI Regatta, University of San Agustin Sigma Alpha Lex, Upsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity, UPV Alumni Association – Iloilo Chapter, COMELEC – Iloilo City and MORE Power.
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