Exploring the Political Attitudes of Youth Election Volunteers in Calapan City and Valenzuela City after the 2022 Presidential Elections

Abstract

Previous studies have consistently documented that the youth often harbor a sense of disenfranchisement from formal politics. Despite the existence of political arenas that aimed to promote youth political engagement, their efficacy in fostering political participation has proven inadequate. However, this prevailing perception was challenged by the remarkable surge of youth political participation during the recent 2022 national elections in the Philippines. This study aimed to address a critical question: what are the prevailing attitudes and experiences of the youth on formal politics prior to, during, and after the 2022 national elections? This study aimed to compare two distinct areas in the Philippines - Valenzuela City (Urban) and Calapan City (Rural). The rationale for such inquiry comes from the recognition that examining the differences between urban and rural contexts can provide policymakers with valuable insights and address the specific challenges faced by each area. To address the main objective of this study, a purposive sampling technique was employed to select a total of 16 participants aged 18-25 who actively participated and volunteered during the 2022 national elections. Utilizing the Zoom Meetings platform, in-depth interviews were conducted with the participants, with an average duration of 50 minutes per interview. The interview data were subsequently coded by the researchers and underwent a rigorous process of thematic analysis. The analysis of the participants' responses revealed three recurring themes: (1) subjective experiences of political participation prior to the elections, (2) influential factors that affected youth participation, and (3) perceptions toward formal politics in relation to their attitudes after the 2022 national elections. Although the youth from the urban and rural areas expressed varying perspectives, they also shared common experiences and attitudes. A prevailing belief among the youth was their commitment to continue participating in future elections despite their negative perception of formal politics. They firmly held the belief that exercising their right to vote and maintaining hope for the improvement of the country was important.