Internet Voting Shows Power
of Young Filipino Voters

"Internet voting by Filipinos in Singapore is not only a pioneering event but also calls attention to dominant Internet usage by young Filipino voters that is changing the character of Philippine political campaigns," says Senator Edgardo J. Angara.

The Commission on Elections has confirmed that voting by 26,835 registered Filipino voters in Singapore will take place on April 14, a pilot activity that, if successful, will be replicated in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong in 2010.

Citing the latest figures from AC Nielsen, the market research firm, Senator Angara noted that 90 percent of Internet users in the Philippines belongs to the 20-39 years age bracket, similar to the age range of Filipinos working in Singapore.

On the other hand, the age brackets 40-49 and 50-59 together constitute only 10 percent of Internet users in the country.

Most Internet users are college graduates which means they are more likely to pay attention to issues and platforms rather than the celebrity status of candidates.

Overwhelming dominance online

"Ninety percent represents an overwhelming dominance of the digital highway by young Filipinos.Young voters as issue-oriented or get-out-the votes advocates can with these figures create a powerful buzz on the web," says Senator Angara whose Website - www.edangara.com -- keeps an active dialogue with young online visitors on key national issues.

From media reports, the youth-led groups currently dialoguing with voters include Abayan Youth, Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, First Time Voters Network, Movement for the Advancement of Student Power, and Alyansa ng Nagkakaising Lakas ng Kabataan.

The dialogue targets 8 million first time voters who will join a Philippine electorate that is increasingly young and feminine.

"Internet buzz via Websites, blogs and e-mail linked with text messaging could help produce some of the winners in these year's Senate and party-list elections, said Senator Angara.

He added that this may be indicated by the results of the Internet voting in Singapore where voters are now being reached by tech-savvy civil society protect-the-votes advocates.

There are 4.4 million Internet users in the Philippines or 5.4 percent of the population according to a 2004 estimate by the International Telecommunications Union. This is small compared with Singapore where 66.3 percent of the population are online.

But that is changing fast. Senator Angara says that the Philippines, on the verge of an economic take-off, will see more lower income Filipinos buying desk top computers, laptops and visiting Internet cafes. Economic growth will also change the character of the Internet from an urban phenomenon to a grassroots arm for all citizens.

"I foresee that the young Filipino voters' online shots for democracy will change the character of Philippine election campaigns forever," Senator Angara concluded.