Understanding the Factors that Govern the Perception of Registered and Non-Registered Voters About their Role in Society
Keywords:
Youth Voters, Civic Engagement, Social Responsibility, ElectionsAbstract
As the 2022 National Elections drew near, researchers wanted to understand how Grade 12 students at SMCQC perceived their role in voting as part of their social responsibility.
They aimed to uncover the factors influencing their decisions and motivations to register to vote, including social media's role in their decision-making processes. The study sought to understand how the youth’s perceptions affected their political discourse and whether registering to vote led to greater civic engagement. The study operated through a qualitative approach and utilized Inductive Thematic Analysis as its research design.
The researchers interviewed six (6) informants, which included three (3) registered voters and three (3) eligible non-registered voters (those at the age of 18 but not registered). Factors were mentioned regarding their motivations for whether to push through or postpone their registration process: 1) the Influence of Araling Panlipunan teacher, 2) the influence of parents, 3) the current political landscape, 4) restrictions brought by COVID-19 pandemic, and 5) migration to another country.
For the informants, the role of social media in voting registration is to 1) Provide credible sources of information, 2) allow platforms for discourse, and 3) guide the registration process. In summary, the informants believe that voting is a Filipino citizen’s social responsibility to practice democracy and create change in the community.
Although some eligible people are yet to register, they know that voting is a social responsibility that citizens have in line with the democratic process. Social media has become a political tool, providing space for discussion, guidance, and empowering the youth with accurate information.
The study’s sample size suggests that further research is needed to understand the youth’s perceptions and roles. Still, it is relevant for future research on the youth’s potential.
