By Niel Lim
Team RP
MANY people dismiss the strength of a youth vote. In the last three elections (2001, 2004 and 2007), the youth have constituted a bulk of the votes, enough to make a candidate win, but these votes were dispersed. Pundits say that because the youth’s voting patterns can’t be classified as much as other demographics, a so-called youth vote does not exist.
But the youth definitely has an agenda to pursue. In 2005, the National Youth Commission (NYC) reported that across regions, education, employment and health ranked as the top three survival and developmental issues of which the youth were most concerned. Substance abuse, juvenile delinquency and child abuse were also cited as the top protection issues and governance (national, local and in the Sangguniang Kabataan), youth involvement and access to information as the top participation issues. So how can a demographic with a concrete agenda and shared aspiration not constitute a powerful voting bloc?
In the last 2004 presidential elections, around 13 million voters were within the 18- to 24-year-old bracket and almost five million of them were first-time voters. Unfortunately, roughly two million more failed to register. In the same year, the President won with only one million votes more than her closest opponent. Had the two million youth voters registered and voted, it could have tipped the scale. In fact, the youth comprised a third of the overall voting population in 2004 and had they rallied behind a single candidate, who embodied their aspirations, that candidate could have won with at least 15 million votes.
Now, in 22 months, over 50 percent of the voting population would be young Filipinos aged 18 to 35, enough Filipinos to change the course of our future; enough Filipinos to advance the cause for the common good; enough Filipinos to invest in our country’s future; enough Filipinos to say “enough.â€
Come 2010, we will not just be the future of the nation — we would be the nation. We would be empowered to effect the change we have been wishing for and with our collective aspirations we could become the catalyst our country needs.
Realizing this potential, we at Team RP are launching the IamChange2010 campaign, a voter registration and education drive that fuses the hippest in today’s youth culture with a compelling social message. Beginning August 2008, the Commission on Elections will open the voter registration season, and we want to make sure we, the youth will make a difference. And we need your support. Every week, the IamChange2010 blog will feature an entry that reflects our collective aspirations, first-time voter experiences and practical tips on voter registration. So if you have something worthwhile to share, please send it to team.rp.official@gmail.com.
There is a youth vote. But it will need you. Change will happen now, if change will begin with everyone. Get involved. Share your views. Listen. Participate. Because having a better country is not just a dream. It’s our duty.
IamChange2010 is a joint project of the Ateneo de Manila School of Government and Team RP. It aims to get the young Filipinos to register and vote in the coming 2010 Presidential elections and educate them on various issues concerning elections. For inquiries, you may also contact Kai at +63 2 4265657.
July 27th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Change begins with every Filipino by following laws, practicing discipline, and loving neighbors.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:59 pm
To Team RP
Congrats for your active engagement to reform our govt.
I say “rock the boat”. BE an “ANTI_ESTABLISHMENT” astig against bureacratic corruption and “crash materialism” erroding the basic foundation of our democratic ideals and good govt.
jojie-riyadh
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:34 am
indeed, much is expected for the youths of today.
may it be that they will finally rise up and be what jose rizal ought them to become-the hope of our fatherland.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:48 am
Well, matagal ng inaantabayanan ng country ang “YOUTH VOTE.” Para sa akin, naniniwala tayo diyan, maganda ang kinabukasan at umaasa tayo sa lakas ng pwersa’t henerasyon ng kabataan, tulad ng karanasan ng mauunlad na bansa sa kanluran.
Kaya lang, sa katangian ng sistemang pulitikal at election sa ating bansa, mukhang bangungot ang sectoral vote (YOUTH, WOMEN, FARMERS, LABOR, CHURCH VOTE, OFW Vote, etc….. There ’s no such thing as SECTORAL VOTE sa Plipinas!!!
Ang mayroon tayo, PATRONAGE at TRAPO VOTE.
Mahina ang ating middle class (intelektwal voter-critical voter), dahil sa desperadong lagay, marami sa kanila ay lumilikas- migrate.
Ang VOTER’S EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ng civil society organization ay seasonal. Nananatiling buluk ang Political party system sa bansa at ang campaign finance ng electoral campaign ay lubhang nakababahala. Aabot na sa P100.0 bilyon ang ginagastos ng mga pulitiko sa tuwing election. Ang isang presidente o senador ay kailangang gumastos ng kalakahating bilyong piso (P500.0 milyon) para sa makinarya, propaganda at vote buying.
Ang isang mayor (3rd class municipality) ay kailangang gumastos ng P10.0 milyon para manalo at hindi madaya sa kampanya. GANITO KABULOK ang ating election sa Pilipinas. Hindi ko alam kung paano MAIIGPAWAN ng YOUTH VOTE ang ganitong klase ng lagay ng ating buluk na pulitika sa bansa.
-Doy
June 27th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Well said Neil.
The common denominator for change is the youth because they are the future and they are the NOW!!
Any one above 40 (like me) have the wisdom
but has sooo many filters for having been frustrated sooo many years.
I would rather that we take the error on making much younger people run our country than let the seniors continue to hedge and look for the best option,taking the shots after the target has gone.
Ang Kapatiran Party had just organized the K2 (kabataan at kapatiran) and in 1 day in an event got 300 sign ups 90% were the young!!
Team RP is in the right direction.
Godbless the NOW generation.Its yours!!
Mabuhay Ang Kabutihan Panglahat !!