Youth group wants SK registration extended

The Akbayan Youth asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday to extend the registration period for voters in the Oct. 29 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls.

According to Angie Tan, Akbayan Youth coordinator for Metro Manila, the week-long registration period set by the Comelec is “too short” to accommodate the estimated eight to 10 million registrants for SK nationwide.

“The registration period began last July 15 and it will end on July 22. It is too short and if the Comelec will not heed our demand for an extension, millions of young Filipinos will be disenfranchised,” she told The STAR.

Akbayan is set to spearhead today a protest action in front of the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila to push for the extension.

The Comelec is scheduled to hold the SK and barangay elections simultaneously on Oct. 29.

Under Resolution No. 8220, those qualified to register for the SK polls are Filipino citizens at least 15 years old but below 18 years old on or before Oct. 29 and actually residing in the barangay for at least six months of election day.

Tan said the Comelec failed to conduct an effective information campaign about the registration so many qualified youths are not aware of the activity.

“And in areas like the city of Manila – which is so big – Comelec is lacking in personnel to attend to those who want to register. The lines are so long so some just went home,” she said.

Akbayan Youth wants the Comelec to extend the registration to up to two weeks to accommodate more registrants.    – Sheila Crisostomo