In preparation for the upcoming Sangguniang Kabataan elections, the Region 11 Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in partnership with Blue Vote and AdDU COMELEC conducted the Satellite Voter’s Registration For the Youth at the Arrupe Hall.

The satellite voter’s registration also allowed for the registration of new voters, change of name or correction of entry, reactivation of registration, updating of registration record, and transfer of registration to Filipino citizens of legal age living in District 1.

“I am one of the people being governed by our government, so therefore may right din ako na sabihin na ito yung gusto ko, na ito yung i-vote ko na Senator, ito yung i-vote ko na President…and i-exercise ko din yung right ko,” Mica F. De Los Reyes, a second-year AB Sociology student, expressed when asked why she decided to be a registered voter.

According to Deniz Jocyl T. Berico, second-year Accountancy student and AdDU COMELEC volunteer, the registration process begins with obtaining a form from the COMELEC personnel to be filled up and signed, after which one can proceed to the queue for the encoding.

The encoding of the information includes taking the pictures of the registrants, obtaining their digital signatures, and their biometrics.

She also explained that for security purposes, all outsider registrants were only allowed to enter and exit at the Jacinto gate.

Upon entry, registrants are given stickers with corresponding colors: pink for pregnant women, senior citizens, and people with disabilities while white was given for the others to know who should be given priority.

Roberto Guarte, a broker and a resident of Talomo, shared that there were no delays in the process.

“Paspas ang unsa, ang proseso, dili siya dugay ba,” he said.

The event was said to be successful as there were no untoward incidences.

AdDU COMELEC Chairperson Angelo S. Timajo encouraged Ateneans to vote for the upcoming SAMAHAN Electoral Board Elections next semester.

“If you don’t really care about voting, then that means you don’t care about your country. And might as well just don’t talk about—don’t complain about what’s happening. Kase in the first place you did not exercise your right to share your opinion, to enforce your opinion [through voting],” he said.

For him, voting is vital as election is the essence of democracy.

“It’s like enforcing an opinion. Election is the essence of democracy. The people choose who leads,” he added.