Link to the UAAP Universities Student Councils' Voter Registration Extension Petition Letter: https://bit.ly/votersregpetition

We, the students of various universities from across the Philippines, adherent to our mandate to represent the students and to commit ourselves to be the vanguards of democracy, on behalf of the Filipino youth and different sectors of society, are sending this petition letter to the Commission on Elections to request for an extension of voter registration.

Enshrined in Article V of the 1987 Constitution is our right to vote. The Philippines, as a democratic country, must hold fair and honest elections. The power to choose our leaders is guaranteed by the highest law of the land. And being citizens, we must ensure its uprightness, uphold its integrity, and strive for the participation of all Filipinos with all means possible and legal.

To ensure the integrity, uprightness and participation of the citizens to the election, the 1987 Constitution also states the very authority to assemble, deliver and conduct regular or special elections - the Commission on Elections. As mandated, the Commission must aim for the fullest participation of eligible Filipinos to the elections, thereby has the jurisdiction on policies to improve systems and processes vital to the conduct of such, in pursuit of R.A. 8189 also known as the Voter’s Registration Act of 1996. 

Under Section 8 of Republic Act No. 8189 of 1966, the commission is allowed to conduct voter registration processes only until one hundred twenty (120) days before the regular elections and ninety (90) days before special elections. Still in compliance with the Republic Act, the commission implemented Resolution No. 10635 on January 10, 2020, setting the time period of voter registration from January 20, 2020 until September 30, 2021. This includes all Mondays and Saturdays including holidays except Christmas day of 2020, and Maundy Thursday and Good Friday of both 2020 and 2021. 

On March 10, 2020 however, only two months after the beginning of the registration period, the Commission suspended the voter registration due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in compliance with the regulations provided by the Interagency Task Force (IATF). The suspension of registration expanded for eight long months, losing one hundred and forty-eight (148) days of registration beginning from March 10, 2020 to August 30, 2020. The resumption of voter registration on September 1, 2020 was built upon the Resolution No. 10674 of August 12, 2020 which states regulations of the Commission in adherence to the health and safety protocols amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

The promulgation of Resolution No. 10674 still met various challenges as the COVID-19 variants continued to pose a threat such that different areas in the country were placed under multiple classifications of community quarantine. As mentioned in the resolution, areas placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) will automatically suspend voter registration unless restrictions are lifted to General Community Quarantine, Modified General Community Quarantine or if an area has no community quarantine restriction status. These measures deterred millions of Filipinos from applying for voter registration and disenfranchising the majority due to the risks of acquiring COVID-19.

In addition, due to the continuous rise of COVID-19 cases and deaths, multiple areas in the country especially the densely populated regions were and still placed under ECQ or MECQ status. With over two million total cases and around twenty thousand (20,000) new cases daily as of September 09, 2021, the application for voter registration will put millions of Filipinos and their families living in high risk areas in danger should they attempt to comply before the set registration deadline on the coming 30th of September. As we strive for the full participation of citizens for the 2022 National and Local elections, the health and safety of the Filipinos must definitely not be compromised before the voting can even take place. 

In light of these conditions, we foresee a massive scale of disenfranchised eligible voters in the country. Recalling the mandate of the 1987 Constitution, we must guarantee that elections, whether regular or special, are participated by the fullest number of eligible voters in the country to assure the integrity and uprightness of elections that are pivotal to the functions of our democracy. Deterrence of voter registration for a long period of time intelligibly does not promote the mandate of our Constitution, and may grossly affect the power that emanates from the people and the future of the nation. 

We, the Filipino youth, come forward with these propositions and demand for the extension of voter’s registration until December 31, 2021 to regain the time and opportunity we lost for it due to multiple and different levels of community quarantine restrictions. We believe that extending the voter registration period is the most judicial and wisest decision to do in addressing both COVID-19 Pandemic and the concern of massive voter disenfranchisement. 

We also come forward to the honourable Commission with these suggestions that we, the youth, see as beneficial to all sectors of society. While we acknowledge the initiatives of the Commission to widen its presence such as providing satellite booths, extending registration hours and partnering with different malls in the country, it is still insufficient to the current situation. 

We propose the establishment of more satellite booths in the country. This includes the institution of a Barangay-level voter registration system, utilizing barangay open or wide facilities such as, but not limited to, covered courts, gymnasiums and parks,  that can immediately cater to the residents of the specific areas. The establishment of this system will ease the threat of acquiring COVID-19 by drastically limiting the time of individuals outside of his/her residence. We see this fit to the current health and safety protocols as it will significantly decrease the concentration of expected registrants in a particular barangay/satellite booth, lowering the risks of a superspreader event. This proposal is still in compliance with the current health and safety protocols of the IATF. Additionally, this must not be affiliated or partnered with the current barangay officials or with the aspirants to preserve the integrity of the elections. We also call for the vaccination of COMELEC poll and registration workers under this proposal as they continue to serve the public, as well as the provision of further support for infrastructure such as, but not limited to, fingerprint scanners and cameras.

It is now under the prerogative of the Commission on Elections to adjust the deadline of registration, and create policies and resolutions in consideration with the current public health crisis and the underlying consequences of community quarantine restrictions, as suggested in this petition letter.

It is with utmost humility that we, the youth and the democracy-loving citizens, submit this petition letter to the Honourable Commission and implore the commissioners to heed the calls of the youth as we collectively maximize our representation to all sectors of society.

 

SIGNED:
UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS CENTRAL STUDENT COUNCIL 
ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY SANGGUNIAN NG MGA MAG-AARAL
ADAMSON UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT
DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT
FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY CENTRAL STUDENT ORGANIZATION
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT
UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST UNIVERSITY STUDENT COUNCIL
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES – DILIMAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT COUNCIL