COMELEC registration youth friendly

CEBU, Philippines - The elections set on May 13 next year are fast approaching with less than eight months to go. However, not all qualified youth have registered to become voters.

There a lot of reasons they do not submit themselves to registration.

"I can't register in Cebu," says Michael James Quidilla, a 22-year-old graduating civil engineering student. Quidilla originally comes from Zamboanga City but has been residing in Cebu City for almost five years.

"Where I'm going is undetermined. So I do not know where to register," adds Quidilla who is choosing between both cities for career opportunities.

Quidilla is just one of the few youths aged 18 to 27 who can vote for the 2013 election but has refused to register.

"The process to register is very easy," says Juluis Nahuman, a registration officer at the Municipality of Consolacion Commission on Elections (Comelec) office.

According to Nahuman, one must just be 18 years of age on or before election day, a resident in the barangay for six months and must have a valid identification (ID) card. If an ID is not present, one may present a police clearance, social security system ID, National Bureau of Investigaion ID or driver's license.

Comelec has even made it easier for those who do not have an ID. They only need to bring a registered voter in the municipality who would vouch for the identity of the applicant as a resident of the said barangay.

Three are only three steps to take when registering. Just present any valid ID and Comelec will give you a white form to fill out. Have your picture taken and wait for the acknowledgement receipt that you have registered.

Nahuman said that voting is easy since we will still be using the automated system for the election.

However, there will be a delay in receiving the voter's ID card.

"Ang COMELEC sa Intramuros, Manila ang mo print ana (The Comelec in Intramuros, Manila will print it), says Nahuman. Due to the millions of applicants and limited resources, the voter's IDs might be released the following year after the election.

But new applicants should not worry because any local Comelec office can print a voter's certification.

"This is to certify that he/she is registered in the municipality," says Nahuman who added that the certification can suffice for a voter's ID. Yet this is not needed to vote. One must just make sure that his/her name is on the precinct list of registered voters on election day.

John Destacamento, 21 and a registered voter at Medellin town, commended the new process for registration.

"The registration process itself kay dali pero it could mean a long wait pod especially if daghan ang magparegister kanang toward the end sa registration period (The registration process itself is fast but it could mean a long too especially if there a lot of applicants towards the end of the registration period.)," he said.

Nahuman says to make things easier, do not lose the acknowledgement receipt after registering at any local Comelec office.

"Relax, automated man ang election ron. Ayos ang imong experience, ma-thrill ka pero mapuno pod ka og singot ana (Relax, the elections are automated. You're experience will be okay, you will be thrilled but you will be filled with sweat)," Nahuman said.