“Educating the young generation while seeking their motivation

and addressing the decline in their political and electoral

participation."

-FTV Network (2010)

The first time voters’ project is a networking and education program

which aims to raise meaningful participation of the youth in

Philippine political processes by examining socio-political economic

issues and encouraging voters’ critical choice and active political

involvement towards alternative politics and good governance.

-FTV Network (2010)

4.8 million First time voters were registered last 2004 elections,

voters ages 18-25 are 13 million — these could reshape Philippine

politics!

-FTV Network (2010)

The First Time Voters Project

The First Time Voters project (FTV) started in year2001, where 4.5 million aged 18-21 years old first timevoters were disenfranchised due to lack of awarenesson the ongoing registration and the incapacity of theCommission on Elections to register efficiently all thefirst time voters.

The First Time Voters Project

Now in its 5th elections-participation campaign, theFirst Time Voters Project aims to launch a renewedadvocacy to register, educate, and mobilize first timevoters to engage the candidates and vote on the basisof platforms and reform agenda.

In 2013, an estimated 28.6 million young voters age 18-34 years old will take to the polls. 9 million of theseyoung voters are first time voters that can be located inschools and barangays (villages). These numbers, ifharnessed, can make or break the turn out of theelections—for the candidates and for the future of thePhilippines.

What is FTV?The First Time Voters Project is a networking andeducation program initiated by various youthorganizations who remain committed in raising theawareness of the youth in the political system.

It is a network of organizations and individuals thatadvocates meaningful participation of young citizensand pushes for electoral and political reforms necessaryfor democratization and social inclusion of the youth asa means to address the generation’s continuing apathyand alienation to political processes.

The First Time Voters’ Project is a continuing process ofdeveloping a new generation of electorate who exercisetheir right to suffrage and maximize youthful andcritical tools in determining the fate of the country andtheir future.

Vision:

The First Time Voters Project envisions an informedcritical young electorate who actively participates inPhilippine political processes geared towards newpolitics and transformative governance.

Mission:

The First Time Voters Project tasks itself to educatethe young generation while motivating theirinvolvement and addressing the decline in theirpolitical and electoral participation through practical,youthful and action oriented means of interventionand cooperation

Programs:

Now on its 11th year, the network’spioneering programs remain relevant inengaging first time voters to participateactively in electoral and political processes:

Networking of Youth and Students Organizations Registration Awareness Drive Political Education for First Time Voters Formulation and Monitoring of Youth Agenda Alternative Youth Events

History:2001 Special Registration Campaign

• 4.5 million first time voters were disenfranchised as they did not meet the registration deadline due to lack of information-awareness drive by the Commission on Elections

• Stakeholders MASP, SCAP, ALYANSA and Akbayan Youth spearheaded the campaign to extend the registration

• Series of pickets, campus and community tours, leafleting, postering and concerts for the campaign have stirred mass interest—-the issue elicited public opinion.

• President Macapagal Arroyo’s visit at the first time voters’ camp and her administrations’ pledge of support

• The historic call for a special session of Congress by the President to revise the law which limited the time for the voters to register

• The class suit filed against the Commission o Elections to the Supreme Court

• The Unang Boto, Anti-Trapo Campaign

Until now, advocates work toinstitutionalize the FTV project as ourgeneration’s response in changing thesocio-political culture of the youthtowards alternative politics andtransformative governance.