ELECTION Watchdog National Citizens Movement for Free Elections or Namfrel has been conducting training for youth volunteers to help in the protection of votes come 2025 Midterm Elections.

The group started the training of the first batch of volunteers composed of college students and one senior high school student in Mandaluyong City.

Namfrel National Chairperson Lito Averia said that part of the youth volunteers’ training is to inculcate in them the importance of every election and the involvement of young voters themselves.

“Nagde-deploy naman kami talaga ng volunteers sa mga voting centers, and kung possible, kung marami-rami, dun sa polling place mismo, kung saan ang bumoboto. To observe, yung processes ng election day,” Averia said.

Namfrel volunteers had to learn every step of election activities, from the transportation of election machines to its assigned warehouse, to municipalities.

“Guarding the printed ballots to be produced by the National Printing Office also requires volunteers,” Averia said.

Averia explained volunteers should be 18 years old so they can be deployed to the field while minors are assigned only to the Operations Center.