Voters’ Rights of Youth in Tuguegarao City

This study examined the level of awareness of youth regarding their voters’ rights and the challenges they encounter in exercising these rights. Utilizing a descriptive mixed-methods design, the research combined quantitative and qualitative approaches to provide a comprehensive understanding of youth participation in the electoral process. The quantitative component employed a Likert-scale questionnaire adapted from the Citizen-Voters’ Education (CVE) Basic Module, assessing awareness before, during, and after elections. Mean scores, frequencies, and percentages were computed to describe general trends in participants’ knowledge and understanding of electoral procedures. The qualitative component included open-ended questions to explore the challenges faced by youth voters, with responses analyzed thematically to identify recurring patterns. Findings revealed that participants were generally moderately aware of their rights across all stages of the electoral process. Youth demonstrated higher awareness of basic voting rights, such as eligibility and refusal of vote-buying, but lower understanding of procedural, evaluative, and post-election aspects, including registration mechanisms, candidate evaluation, and civic engagement opportunities. Thematic analysis identified four major barriers to participation: knowledge and information deficit, vote buying and corruption, long lines and administrative delays, and political apathy and disinterest. These barriers highlight the interplay of informational, systemic, ethical, and attitudinal factors that influence youth electoral engagement. The study underscores the need for enhanced civic education, streamlined electoral processes, and initiatives to foster political engagement among youth. By addressing these areas, educational institutions, electoral bodies, and civil society organizations can empower young voters to exercise their rights responsibly, contribute to transparent and accountable elections, and strengthen the democratic process.