I can still remember the day I registered to be a voter. I think I was 16 years old at the time. It was my mother who told me to go to our municipal hall (“municipio”) to register as a voter for the upcoming Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. Back then, I was still a newbie but I’m excited to be a voter- full of hope.
When we got there, I asked someone and they just pointed me toward the registration office, and I simply followed the line. It took some time to get through because other teens were already in the queue. We arrived at the office at 1 PM, and by exactly 3 PM, it was finally my turn to register.
The registration process itself was not difficult. The only challenge I encountered was the long line. When it was my turn, I presented my valid ID and then went through the biometrics process, where I had to sit in front of the webcam (cue the “serious face” moment). In this part, they also took my fingerprints and signature. After finishing the biometrics capture, I was asked to write my name and sign the logbook. Finally, they issued me an acknowledgment receipt, and with that, I feel like I was officially registered as a voter.
During the first Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Election, I was able to cast my first vote as a Filipino voter, who yes, has lots of hope for public servants. I still consulted my mother about which candidates I should vote for. She gave me some names, but she let me decide who I think is more capable of serving our barangay. And with that, it is really hard for me to think of those things because some of the running officials I don’t really know. So, I guess that was the challenge.
Some of the candidates that I voted for won, but some of them did not make it to their position. But one thing I know is that during their reign, most of the platforms they pledged were not achieved. During their time, I also witnessed their grit in making changes in our barangay. One thing that I remember during the pandemic is that they have feeding programs. They also have a cash assistance program, which, to be honest, I was not listed. I have many hopes for the people that I voted for; they tried their best perhaps, but to be honest, their grit was not enough to create changes in our barangay, especially in youth.
Fast forward to the last national and local elections on May 9, 2022, around 65.7 million Filipinos were registered to vote. The significant rise shows a growing engagement in the electoral process, emphasising the importance of making every vote count in shaping the country’s future. This figure represents an increase of 3.91 million registered voters compared to the general elections in 2019.
While in the present, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) extended the deadline for online voter reactivation filing to September 25, 2024. The extension aims to allow more Filipinos who were deactivated due to not voting in two consecutive elections to reactivate their records.
Deactivated voters can apply for reactivation online if they have complete biometrics with the local Comelec office. Currently, there are 5.37 million deactivated voters, and Comelec encourages them to take advantage of this reactivation opportunity. This indicates that there is a significant number of Filipinos (5.37 million) who have lost their voting privileges due to inactivity in two consecutive elections.
If deactivated voters do not reactivate their registration, they will not be able to participate in upcoming elections. This means they will lose the ability to vote for local and national candidates, including barangay officials, mayors, senators, and the president, until they go through the reactivation process.
Their voting rights will remain suspended until they take the necessary steps to reactivate their records with the Comelec. This could reduce overall voter turnout and their ability to contribute to the democratic process.
Deactivated voters still have a chance to reactivate their accounts, the Comelec extended the deadline for online voter reactivation filing to September 25, 2024. The voter registration period for the 2025 national and local elections (NLE) will end on September 30, 2024.
Registering as a voter is the first step toward creating meaningful change. If we truly want to elect the right leaders, we must remember that voters hold the most power in the electoral process. It is through your vote that the most capable, responsible, and courageous candidates rise to the top—those who will serve, not themselves, but the community.
Registering to vote is one step closer to change—as the cliché says. By being a registered voter, one can gain a lot of chances from it. You will have the right to vote for who you think is suited for the position—it is your decision-making skills; likewise, you also engage yourself in civic practice and your right to suffrage.
Future registered voters, your voice matters, your vote holds the power to change the twisted beliefs of society. Make it count. Take the time to scrutinize: Is this candidate truly worthy of your trust and your vote? Worth the time you spent in line to register as a voter? I Alliah Jane Babila
Illustration by Aljae Babila