Only 10,431 youths in Cebu’s component towns and cities including those in Metro Cebu registered with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as of Thursday last week.
“The trend really is going down. Like I said, they might miss the opportunity to prove that the SK is still relevant. If the youth don’t show interest or commitment to the SK, why bother to?,” Comelec provincial officer Ferdinand Gujilde said.
Gujilde said the number should have been higher because of the limited period for registration from Sept. 20 to today, Sept. 29.
Based on Comelec records, 1,100 people were registered in Cebu City and another 1,073 in Lapu-Lapu City in five days.
In Carcar City, Gujilde said 200 registered on the weekend but there were only less than five people who registered in the following week.
Difficult
Also, some Comelec offices in towns and cities tallied zero voters.
“Toledo on a Saturday tallied zero and on a Sunday, only eight people and considering it is a city. It’s either they’ve really lost interest or all voters were registered,” he said.
Due to the low turnout, Gujilde said it’s difficult to persuade the Comelec to extend the registration period. “You have no right to extend the date of registration if you didn’t take advantage of the period in the first place,” he told reporters.
Filipino citizens aged 15 to 17 years old on or before the Feb. 21, 2015 SK elections are qualified to register and should reside in the barangay six months before election day.
Related Stories:
Comelec opens registration for voters
Comelec sets July 20 as PWD registration day
Long lines kick off voters registration