IF you are registered for the May 12, 2025 elections, make every effort to cast your vote. If you are reading this, chances are you belong to the demographic that political scientists might call competent citizens.
The gut feeling is that you attended some college, earned a bachelor’s degree or even something higher, and probably have a good idea about how the different branches of government work and who among those seeking office are best qualified to legislate at various levels.
Perhaps you make lists of candidates for the Senate, the House (including the multitude of party-list groups). You pore over the aspirants’ fitness for the city, provincial, and municipal boards. And you do the valuable service of discussing them with your family and friends. Not an easy task being a good citizen.
You are also likely blessed with more in life, and this becomes your moral social responsibility to give back, by voting according to your informed conscience.
‘We know that society at large can benefit immensely if and when voters are competent and well informed about how the government works and the kind of people necessary to make it function well.’
You might also be disappointed and increasingly frustrated, and bordering on cynicism, if not hopelessness. But if your registration is current and valid, that’s a glimmer of hope.
We have nothing against the overwhelming majority of the population who did not have the chance to pursue higher studies. Nor are we even suggesting that mere possession of advanced degrees is a guarantee of wisdom and upright living. We all know of too many examples to the contrary.
What is worrying is when those who have read and debated on a wide variety of subjects after high school, those who have had access to good reading materials, and those who benefited from learned professors, surrender their right to vote.
Voter registration in this country is no easy feat. But there are some idealistic individuals who brave the distance, the heat and sometimes bureaucratic attitude to make sure their voice gets heard in the next election.
Alas, because election day is a holiday, this same educated — and shall we say reasonably prosperous — demographic will be tempted to take a vacation on that long election weekend. When they fail to vote twice, as will repeat when another vacation presents itself at the next election, they get delisted. Some will not bother to register again.
We do not want to encourage elitism or to marginalize the uneducated. The latter, many of whom are poor, are not the enemy. They are fellow citizens and as much stakeholders as we are in our country’s success.
The real enemy is ignorance that is the result of poor policy and governance. And this ignorance will benefit only “trapo” dynasties that we see time and again keep and expand political power within their gene pool.
Competent citizenship may favor, but should not be exclusive to, the higher-educated.
We know that society at large can benefit immensely if and when voters are competent and well informed about how the government works and the kind of people necessary to make it function well.
Let your educated vote be counted.
