Millions of Filipinos still haven’t registered for the May 9, 2022 elections, according to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner, Rowena Guanzon. Not only is Comelec encouraging new voters to sign up, they’re also reminding deactivated voters to renew their registration. This is your reminder that you’re running out of time and that the deadline for registration is in three months with the 2022 elections in less than a year. Here’s why you need to register ASAP if you haven’t yet.
[Updated Sept. 29]
You have the right to vote
The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines Article V Section 1 plainly states that:
“Suffrage [the right to vote] may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one year, and in the place wherein they propose to vote, for at least six months immediately preceding the election. No literacy, property, or other substantive requirements shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage.”
In simple terms, every Filipino that’s 18 years old and above has the right to vote. If you are of age, you should be exercising this right every national or local election. Don’t take this right for granted, there are other countries that don’t give their citizens the right to vote while we Filipinos can freely do so once we turn of age. Take advantage of it.
It’s your duty
We’re fortunate to be born in a democratic country. We have the freedom to support the candidate we believe can protect our country and put the people’s best interest at heart. As Filipinos, it’s also our duty to the motherland to vote for leaders that can make our nation better. It’s our duty to our beloved country who has been struggling for decades, it’s our duty to ourselves as Filipino citizens, and it’s our duty to the generations ahead of us who will be feeling the effects — good or bad — of the kind of leadership we will be electing.
You get to take part in the future of the country
We have a role to play for the future of our country and that starts with registering to vote. The future of the Philippines lies in the hands of its people, we are the ones who choose leaders to lead our country. Like we said earlier, future generations will reap whatever we sow. Make sure your voice is heard by registering to vote and exercising your right to vote.
You get to support someone you believe in
The past year alone has opened the eyes of everyone anew to the importance of electing government officials who can act and produce results. While the candidates for the presidency are yet to be finalized, we’re sure you’ve got some candidates on your mind right now. Whoever they are, registering to vote is half the support you can give. The other half is showing up in precinct polls and shading those ballots.
We need more registered voters
Guanzon said that Comelec’s data currently has 57 million registered voters plus the 3.5 million new voters. It’s still a far cry from Comelec’s target of 11 million voters for the 2022 elections.
Registering and voting is easy
Voter registration in the middle of the pandemic is done by appointment. You don’t have to worry about standing in line with a crowd of people, you just have to schedule your appointment and bring the necessary documents. To know the step-by-step of registering to vote in the middle of the pandemic, click here.
Guanzon is also planning on deploying election officers to visit barangays so people can register without leaving their areas.
As for actual voting, the process will be different under the new normal but we’re sure it won’t take too much of your time. Comelec is also working on a safer election day
There’s a looming deadline
The nationwide registration for voting will end on October 30, 2021. Originally, the deadline was September 30, 2021, but Comelec agreed to extend the deadline for registration due to pressure from the general public and lawmakers.
So if you’ll be 18 years old on May 9, 2022 or you’ve received notice that your voter status is deactivated, you’ve still got some time to register to vote.
Every vote counts
If you ever feel insignificant, think about how you can literally change the course of an entire nation. Your single vote has the power to change the tides. Imagine being an unregistered voter who’s eyeing a particular candidate and finding out that they lost the seat to another candidate over one vote. You could’ve made a difference. Live life with no regrets and register to vote!
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