Youth reminded to register to vote and let voices be heard

The youth were reminded of their duty to vote and take part in the country's historic first nationwide Automated Elections in 2010 by Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon today.

Gordon, author of Republic Act (RA) 9369 or the law that mandates the full automation of the 2010 presidential elections, reminded the youth to register for the 2010 elections.

"With your vote in the 2010 automated polls, you can change this country. But before you can vote, you must first register," he said.

"Our youth ought to remember that bad government officials are elected by good people who do not vote," he added.

In preparation for the 2010 elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) started the continuing registration on Dec. 2 last year. It will end on Oct. 31 this year.

The Comelec expects at least 2 million new voters to register during the continuing registration. But as of January 19, only 10 percent of those who registered were first time voters.

Data from the poll body showed that the Comelec-Election and Barangay Affairs Division (EBAD) has approved 191, 872 out of 196,011 applications for registration.

Gordon, former chairman of the Joint Oversight Committee on Automated Election System, underscored that in renouncing one's right to vote, we are also passing the chance to choose for ourselves.

"Without registering, without participating, without getting involved, we are allowing unscrupulous groups to once again reign over our government. If this happens, we will again see deals like the Fertilizer Fund Scam or the NBN ZTE Deal," he said.