First Time Voters Project

4.5 million first time voters were disenfranchised as they did not meet the registration deadline due to lack of information-awareness drive by the Commission on Elections

• Stakeholders MASP, SCAP, ALYANSA and Akbayan Youth spearheaded the campaign to extend the registration
• Series of pickets, campus and community tours, leafleting, postering and a concert draw out mass interests and was popularized as a national issue and elicited public opinion.
• President Macapagal Arroyo’s visit at the first time voters’ camp and her administrations’ pledge of support
• The historic call for a special session of Congress by the President to revise the law which limited the time for the voters to register
• The class suit filed against the Commission on Elections to the Supreme Court
  The Unang Boto, Anti-Trapo Campaign
  
  Until now, advocates work to institutionalize the FTV project as our generation’s response in changing the socio-political culture of the youth towards alternative politics and transformative governance.

So what is it really about?

The first time voters project is a networking and education program initiated by various youth organizations who remain committed in raising the awareness of the youth in our political system as well as involvement in electoral engagement towards alternative politics and transformative governance.

It is a network of organizations and individuals that advocates meaningful participation of young citizens aged 15-21 years and pushes for electoral and political reforms necessary for the democratization and social inclusion of the youth in addressing the continuing apathy and individualism.

The first time voters’ project is a continuing process of developing a new generation of electorate who exercise their right to suffrage and maximize such potent tools in determining the fate of the country and their future vis-à-vis maintaining an atmosphere of active involvement.

Now..

• For the next fifteen years, Filipinos are to be composed of young generation (UNDP report)
  Increasing numbers of Young Politicians in Government
• Sangguniang Kabataan as youth’s space in democratization
• 72% of the electorate will be composed of youth voters

Beat the odds..

• Youth and Public Perception that Politics is dirty
  Traditional practices in Philippine Politics as perpetuated by traditional politicians
• Crooked electoral system because of powerful fraudulent politicians
• Personality-oriented and interest driven politics
• Growing culture of pessimism and individualism among the youth
• Lack of information and alienation of youth in political processes and institutions
• The insignificance of youth voice and youth vote

What to do..

• Processing the young generation with a different view of politics
• Developing a second line of reformed leadership
  Rejuvenating the youth’s active involvement in political processes
• Exercising the right elections
• A young generation who is young informed and critical.

Objective:

To raise meaningful participation of the youth in Philippine political processes by examining socio-political economic issues and encouraging voters’ critical choice and active political involvement towards alternative politics and transformative governance.

Vision:

The First Time Voters Project envisions an informed critical young electorate who actively participates in Philippine political processes aiming towards alternative politics and transformative governance.

Mission:

The First Time Voters Project tasks itself to educate the young generation while motivating their involvement and addressing the decline in their political and electoral participation through practical, youthful and action oriented means of intervention and cooperation

Programs:

1. Tapping network of youth and students’ organizations and/or individuals in the communities and schools as first time voters

2. Tapping potential allied peoples’ organizations, non-government organizations and local government units to support the project

3. Printing and disseminating voters’ education materials

4. Spearheading registration campaign and awareness drive in schools and communities

5. Facilitating popular voters’ and political education at grassroots level

6. Building a learning system for project stakeholders and volunteers necessary to carry out the popular voters education

7. Creating alternative means and venue for active political participation of the youth

8. Policy Advocacy

9. Capacity building for young people in governance

10. Formulation and Monitoring of Alternative Youth Agenda

# posted by first time voters project @ 4:26 PM