Amid doubts youth sector majority will vote, says NYC head

MANILA, Philippines - Amid doubts on the credibility and success of the upcoming automated elections, the youth sector has exhibited positive response towards and is expected to bring in a huge turnout come May 10, the chairman of the National Youth Commission said yesterday.

NYC chair Christopher Lawrence Arnuco estimates some 50 percent increase in the number of registrants among new voters who will have turned 18 before May 10.

“There is a potential that this will result in a big turnout of voters,” Arnuco told The STAR on the sidelines of a voter education campaign at the Ateneo De Manila University in Quezon City. According to Arnuco, 23 to 24 million voters are expected to come from the age bracket between 18 and 30 years old. He explained that based on their consultations, all the subsectors of the youth – those who are in school, those out of school, young professionals and youth with special needs – have exhibited a positive outlook toward the upcoming elections.

“All are very vocal… There is a positive sign that they are willing to participate,” Arnuco said. The technology-savvy generation has been responding positively to the first fully automated elections. Their access to other forms of technology like blogs and social networking sites have contributed to the exchange of information among the youth, Arnuco said.

“There are doubts but we have to trust the institution and the system. We have to participate,” he said. He believes the youth sector has an informed choice on which candidates to vote for. According to him this is because the youth sector has issues to put forward. These issues are those that not only directly affect their generation but the society in general.