A registration survival
guide for teen voters
By Joey G. Alarilla
INQ7.net

YOU can make a big difference in choosing our next leaders and shaping our country's future, but your opinion won't count unless you go out to register and vote. If you're voting for the first time on May 10, 2004 and you're a bit nervous about registering, relax -- we're here to help guide you through the process. Maybe some of you haven't realized that the registration period already started on August 4, or maybe you're waiting to register at the last minute. Whatever may be the case, this survival guide aims to make the process easier for you -- but the choice to exercise your right to vote is entirely up to you.


Who can register:

· If you're turning 18 by May 10, 2004, then you're qualified to vote. Now you really feel like an adult, huh?
· You must be a resident of the Philippines for at least one year and a resident of the place where you intend to vote for at least six months on or before the May 10, 2004 elections
· You're not otherwise disqualified by law. Some of the things that would disqualify you from registering are:
· You've been sentenced by final judgment to imprisonment of not less than one year
· You've been found by final judgment to be guilty of crimes involving disloyalty to the duly constituted government, including rebellion, sedition, violation of the firearms law, or any crime against national security. So don't plan a coup or mutiny and expect to still vote.
· You've been declared crazy by the proper authorities -- crazy not in a good fun-loving, daredevil, bungie jumping way but as in insane.

When you can register:

The registration is ongoing until October 31, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Sunday. So there's really no excuse -- just find a convenient day out of seven days a week from now until October 31. And it's better not to wait until the last minute -- help get rid of the mañana habit. You'll also have more time to concentrate on honoring your dead relatives and planning Halloween parties by the time October 31 arrives.

Where to go:

You'll go to the Office of the Election Officer of the city, municipality or district where you reside and intend to vote.

What to bring:

You'll have to personally accomplish two copies of the prescribed application form. You can already reproduce or photocopy this and accomplish the form even before you go to the Office of the Election Officer to apply for registration. Download the form from this site.

You'll have to bring certain documents with you to prove your identity. After all, you don't want flying voters ruining your choice, do you? It's also important to note that the community tax certificate or cedula will not be honored.

Those who are turning 18 by May 10, 2004 will submit a 1x1 or 2x2 ID picture. You must submit any two of the following IDs as applicable:

· Current employee ID with your picture and signature and the signature of the employer or authorized representative
· Student ID or library card with picture and signed by the school authority
· Postal ID
· Driver's license
· National Bureau of Investigation/Philippine National Police clearance with picture
· Passport

How to validate:

Even if you're already a registered voter prior to the ongoing list-up for the May 10, 2004 polls, remember that you still have to validate your existing registration record. Validation simply means submitting yourself at a Data Capture Workstation established by the Commission on Elections, for the live capture of your biometrics data, which will include:


· Your photograph as captured on digital camera
· Your signature as captured on the signature pad
· and
· Fingerprints lifted from applicant's right index, left index, right thumb and left thumb using Morphosmart

For validation, you have to personally accomplish two copies of the prescribed application form (get it here) and bring any two of the IDs we listed above. Unlike in registration, however, you can apply for in any of the satellite offices established by the Election Officer, not just in the Office of the Election Officer in your the city, municipality or district. Again, keep in mind that the cedula won't be honored. Application for validation is ongoing until December 12, 2003, Monday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sure you might think it's such a hassle to register, but you can't enjoy the right to choose unless you're willing to exert a little effort. Think of it as lining up for enrollment in school, or queuing up for a movie or concert you really want to see. So, register as soon as you can and make your vote count, and tell all your friends to do same.
After all, it's your future too.