DILI, 08 january 2022 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste’s National Elections Commission (NEC) held a one-day workshop on ‘civic education for students 18 years old and above at the Technical Secondary School Becora (ESTV).
The main objective of the workshop was to raise the awareness of the youth, particularly the students of the ESTV Becora to exercise their right to vote in the presidential election to be held next month.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, the Executive Secretary of NEC, Odete Maria Belo said that the ‘Civic Education’ workshop was part of the NEC preparation for the upcoming presidential election.
“Civic education is important to raise the awareness of the students, particularly those who are over 18 to participate in the march 19 presidential election,” Belo told reporters at ESTV Becora, in Dili, on tuesday.
She said civic education is crucial to help the young voters to familiarize themselves with Timor-Leste’s electoral law.
“The young voters need to know the electoral campaign, electoral law, and electoral crime. For instance, if a voter bringing a mobile with him or her when casting his/her vote at the polling center is considered as an electoral crime,” she said.
Belo called on new voters to not commit such crimes in the upcoming presidential election.
She said three parallel vote centers in Dili would facilitate those students who would not go and vote in their municipalities: “Students are required to submit a declaration letter to Ministry of Education Youth and Sport (MoEYS) stating their fundamental reason for not voting in their municipalities.”
Belo added enhancing youth political participation is essential for young people to cast their votes to the candidates they believe to be the next President of the Republic.
At the same place, the principal of the ESTV Becora Aderito Luis da Costa urged his students to fully attend the workshop to understand the electoral campaign, electoral law, and electoral crimes.
“More than 100 students are attending this civic education workshop. All of them are 18 years old and above,” Costa said.
Previously, the Director-General of the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE), Acilino Manuel Branco STAE had registered more than 855.597 voters, including 6.538 Timorese voters who are residing overseas.
He said up to 1.200 vote centers and 1.500 polling stations would be set across the country, including three parallel vote centers in Dili.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafael Belo
