We, the academe, civil society organizations, youth groups, and sectoral leaders, call on the national government and election stakeholders to extend the voter registration deadline and ramp up voter registration initiatives to ensure that all eligible Filipino voters will be able to participate in the upcoming 2022 elections.
Citing the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority presented by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), a projected 73.3 million Filipinos are eligible to vote by 2022, with the youth accounting for more than 25 million. As of now, there are only 60 million who are registered to vote. This means, more than 13.3 million[1] Filipinos are not yet registered.
Given the multiple hard lockdowns in various parts of the country and the closure of satellite voter registration sites due to the Delta variant of the coronavirus pandemic, concluding voter’s registration too early may risk disenfranchising the 13.3 million unregistered potential voters. Based on previous elections, this number is enough to change the outcome of the upcoming 2022 national and local elections.
In a time where democratic spaces are being challenged, now more than ever, it is important to value and ensure that we have exhausted all means to provide every eligible Filipino voter a chance for their voice to be heard.
Nevertheless, we welcome the efforts of COMELEC that allow more people to register before the September 30 deadline that includes an online voter reactivation status for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens, and an extension of voter registration hours.
Alongside these initiatives, we further call for specific measures such as increasing the number of satellite voter registration sites by partnering with local universities and colleges; exploring ways to accommodate first-time voters especially non-working and out-of-school youth; and adopting a multi-stakeholder approach in developing and implementing voter registration campaigns.
Sustainability and resiliency are two complementing concepts that strengthen the foundation of healthier and more inclusive societies. As the 2022 Philippine national elections draw near, we should call on the government and all other electoral stakeholders to infuse resilience into sustainability in our democratic processes for them to work.
The concepts of resiliency and sustainability, when done in practice, will result in the Filipino people not only being able to feel that they are encouraged to politically participate but also are empowered to make informed choices for our country.
[1] Source: Proposed Senate Resolution Urging the COMELEC to Extend the Deadline for Voter Registration from September 30, 2021 to October 31, 2021 to Prevent Voter Disenfranchisement Brought About by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Signatories:
Ateneo School of Government (ASOG)
La Salle Institute of Governance (LSIG)
National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL)
Caucus of Development NGO Networks Inc. (CODE-NGO)
Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services Inc. (IDEALS)
Action Bridges Aspiration Trainings Inc. - Maluso Branch
Active Moro Alliance For Development
Active Vista Center, Inc.
Active Young Saver Society
Adlawan SK Youth
Advocates and Leaders for Action and Awareness (ADLAAW)
AIESEC in the Philippines
Aktibong Kabataan ng Dampalit (AKDA)
Al-barka Youth Serving Association
Al-Fauj Al-Imanie Philippines
Alamin Abdullah MALIGA
Aljalis Assalih Inc. (The Good Companion) -Pagadian City Chapter
Alliance of Magnanimous Youth Leaders Inc. (AMYL) - Cotabato City
Alliance of Magnanimous Youth Leaders, Inc. (AMYL) - Datu Anggal Midtimbang
Alliance Youth Philippines
Alpha Kappa Rho International Humanitarian Service Fraternity and Sorority Inc. - Maimbung Chapter
Alpha Phi Omega Lambda Nu Chapter
Alyansa ng Kabataang Mindanao para sa Kapayapaan (AKMK)
Alyansa Pasig Youth Group
Anak ng Tribu Higaunen-Talaandig Association
Asbury College, Inc.
Association of Foundations, Inc. (AF)
Asturias Youth Organization
Ateneo Center for Culture and the Arts (ACCA)
Ateneo Center for Leadership and Governance (ACLG)
Ateneo Peace Institute (API)
Awladul Islam Islamic Propagation
Ayala Young Leaders Alumni Association Inc. (AYLAA)
Bacolod Youth Coalition for Democracy
Bangsakultoura
Bangsamoro Young Leaders Program - Leadership Communities
Barangay X SK Council - Roxas City
Basilan Youth Development initiative movement
Batangas State University Alangilan Campus - Supreme Student Council
Benta Uno
Bicol University College of Engineering - College Student Council - Albay
Bicol University College of Engineering - College Student Council - Guinobatan
Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP)
Bukluran ng mga Katutubo para sa Pangangalaga ng Kalikasan sa Pilipinas
C's-SPARK
Capiz Eco - Youth Volunteers
CapSU - Main Campus
CCC Student Parliament
Cebu Coalition of Student Councils
Cebuano Youth Ambassadors, Inc.
Center for Community Extension Services (CCES) Ateneo de Zamboanga
Central Mindanao University
Central Visayas Network of NGOs and POs (CENVISNET)
Christian Family Movement
Coalition of Moro Youth Movement
Colegio San Agustin - Bacolod Student Government
College of Education Students' Society
Collegiate of Engineering Council
Communicators' Society LPU-Laguna
CTE League of Leaders
Dagook Sindaw Kalombayan
Democracy Watch Philippines
Democratic Alliance Student for Integrated Governance
Department of Education (DepEd) Bulacan
Division of Bulacan Federation of Supreme Student Government and Pinas Forward Bulacan
Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University - South La Union Campus CSBO (DMMMSU-SLUC CSBO)
Eastern Visayas Network of NGOs and POs (EVNET)
EdukasyonPH
El Fuente PH
Fatima Vigan Multi Purpose Cooperative
Federation of Trans-Parochial Charismatic Communities (FTCC)
FEU Public Policy Center
Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA)
Future Leader of the Philippines Capsu Dumarao Chapter
Future Leaders of the Philippines CapSU Dayao Chapter
Gawad Laguna Inc.
Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardee - Aklan
Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardees - Iloilo
GMA Cavite Youth Organization
Good Governance Initiative
GoodGovPH
Government Watch (G-Watch)
Green Eco Warrior
H.O.S.T Organization
Hagonoy Young Leaders Program (HYLeaP)
Hijab for a Cause
Humanities and Social Sciences Council - Liceo de La Salle
Humans Helping Humans Initiative
I Connect Youth Network
InclusiviTeach
Innovations for Poverty Action
Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture (ISACC)
International Association of Youth and Student for Peace
International Order of the Rainbow for Girls
Iranun Youth Initiative
IYouDahan
Juan Youth Network
Junior Philippine Pharmacists Association - AUF
Junior Philippine Society For Public Administration - Central Visayas Chapter
Junior Philippine Society for Public Administration - NCR Chapter
Junior Philippine Society for Public Administration (JPSA) - Western Visayas
Junior Philippine Society for Public Administration Central Luzon Chapter
Junior Philippine Society for Public Administration North Luzon Chapter
Junior Philippine Society of Public Administration - Southern Tagalog
Kabataan Moro - Mamasapano
Kabataan sa Kartilya ng Katipunan
Kabataang Likha ni Pedro
Kabataang Lingkod Bayan ng Pilipinas
Kabataang San Joseño Movement
Kabataang Tambuli ng Pasig
Kajatian Active Youth Organization
Kalibo Youth Development Office
Kapisanan ng mga Guro sa Araling Panlipunan Sangay ng Lungsod ng Butuan Inc
Kapisanan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Araling Panlipunan (KMAP)
Katipunan Ng Kabataan - Barangay San Juan
Katipunan ng Kabataan - San Francisco
Kilos Ko Youth - Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat
Kilos Ko Youth - Imus
Kusug Batah Sug Inc.
Lakas Kabataan Sulu Youth Power Inc.
League of Young Catalyst
LENTE Philippines