( . , 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBL~ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1\ 
) 
) 
) 
Stl1cl1r 
{(}Il,;r Df \~f ~*.n"t.,~ 
Second Regular Session 
'14 
NOV 18 P 1 :47 
SENATE 
S. No. 
2459 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO IMPROVE VOTER TURNOUT BY PROVIDING PRE-REGISTRATION 
SERVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLSFOR CHILDREN AGED SIXTEEN AND 
SEVENTEEN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 13 provides: 
Section 13. The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-
building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, 
intellectual, and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism 
and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic 
affairs. 
Article 5, Section 1 also provides: 
Section 1. Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the 
Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen 
years of age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one 
year, and in the place wherein they propooe to vote, for at least six months 
immediately preceding the election. No' literacy, property, or other 
substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage. 
\ 
The Philippines has seen a steady dec1in~'in voter turnout in the National elections 
as shown by the data of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral 
Assistance (IDEA).l This may indicate lower participation and civic-mindedness among 
Filipinos in general. Studies show, however, that voting behavior becomes less 
susceptible to change in older generations. Corollarily, studies also show that factors that 
may affect voting behaviour, such as institutional reform and political events, have the 
greatest impact on young voters, especially in the first three times that they vote. These 
1 http://www.idea.intivt/countryview.cfm?CountryCode=PH 


· , 
impacts have a long term effect on their voting behavior as they age.2All these factors 
suggest that targeting the youth and encouraging them to vote by fostering awareness and 
convenience may be the best way to improve overall voter turnout, and by extension, the 
sense of civic involvement, duty and responsibility among the citizenry. 
One reform that can potentially increase voter turnout and encourage the youth to 
exercise their right to suffrage, is voter pre-registration. This allows children aged 1 to 2 
years below voting age to register in advance. This makes registration and voting more 
convenient, and has resulted in greater voting awareness and voter turnout among the 
youth in other countries, particularly in the Uni~d States, once they have reached voting 
Our Constitution provides that SUffrag~ay be exercised by citizens who are at 
least eighteen years of age. However, the government and our current educational system 
fall short in preparing and guiding the youth on exercising their right to suffrage. This 
situation leads to low awareness of the voting process, low preparedness, and ultimately, 
low voter turnout for first-time young voters. 
This bill seeks to foster and improve voter turnout, civic involvement and electoral 
awareness, and responsible voting among the youth by providing them with pre-
registration services in their own schools. Not only will this make it more convenient for 
the youth to participate in the electoral process, but this will also increase awareness and 
promote civic duty at an early age. As a result, it is more likely that young people will 
vote when they reach eighteen years old.This bill also aims to instill in young people a 
habit of participating in the electoral process. 
~ 
cdJw. 
. ,O,~ 
MIRIAM DEF~~ 
si'NTI/60 
'h' 
'Franklin, M. (n.d.). Voter Turnout and the Dynamics of Electoral Competition in Established 
Democracies since 1945. 
JMcdonald, M., & Thornburg, M. (n.d.). Registering the Youth Through Voter Preregistration. 
New York University Journal of Legislation and Public I"ollicy, 13, 551-572. 
2 
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· ' 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
\, 
Second Regular Session 
SEN~r?_ . 
S.No. ~ 
" 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
'14 
NOV 18 P 1 :47 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
AN ACT 
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TO IMPROVE VOTERS TURNOUT BY PROVIDING PRE-REGISTRATION 
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SERVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR CHILDREN AGED 16 AND 17 
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SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Youth Pre-registration 
Act". 
SECTION 2. Designation of Lead Agencies.- The Commission on Elections 
(COMELEC) shall be primarily responsible for the proper implementation of this Act. 
This shall be carried out in cooperation with the Department of Education (DepEd) and 
its subdivisions. The COMELEC and the DepEd shall be jointly responsible for providing 
the implementing rules and regulations that shall govern the conduct of the activities 
outlined in this Act. 
SECTION 3. Declaration of Policy. - A eerson who is sixteen or seventeen years 
of age may register to vote in the manner prescribed in this Act. However, no one under 
eighteen years of age shall be permitted to v\e in any election in accordance with the 
Constitution, Article 5, Section I. 
" 
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SECTION 4. Pre-registration in Public Schools. 
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The COMELEC, in 
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coordination with the DepEd, shall conduct a school activity in all public schools 
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nationwide, for the purpose of providing enrolled students aged sixteen and seventeen 
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with the opportunity to register for voting. The DepEd shall provide preliminary 
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preparations for the activity including informing the students beforehand of all the 


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necessary requirements for voter registration. This activity shall be conducted once every 
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year in each public school. 
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SECTION 5. Pre-registration in Private Schools. 
Private Schools are 
encouraged to conduct similar activities. The COMELEC shall, at the request of any 
private school, provide the same pre-registration services. 
SECTION 6. Authorization of Appropriations. -
There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary for the implementation 
of this Act. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
\, 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. -
Any l<lw, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, adminis!\ative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or is inconsistent with the provision of this Act \,hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
lamll3nov20 14 
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