By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

VOTERS from 18 to 35 outnumber older voters, according to NMI Republican Party spokesman Kimo M. Rosario.
Rosario, in an interview on Friday, said the increasing number of young voters as well as the continuously rising level of their awareness regarding social, economic and political issues will determine the new direction that local political parties have to take.
Rosario, who himself is 35, said most of the initiatives these days to address pressing issues are coming from either youth or young adults.
He cited the public forums now regularly held following Tina Sablan’s “Dear People of the Commonwealth” letter to the editor published by the Variety in January.
High school students have also organized their own forums and last week’s youth summit discussed wage and immigration issues.
Rosario said they have collected data that shows the following:
A total of 883 are listed among voters 18 to 20 years old; 1,731 voters — 21 to 25; 1,625 — 26-30; and 1,677 — 31 to 35.
The age group 36 to 40 has 1,421 voters; 1,456 — 41 to 45; 1,289 — 46 to 50; 1,042 — 51 to 55; 586 — 55 to 60; and 460 — 61 to 66.
Rosario said it is likely that a large number of young voters will participate in the midterm elections this year.
The local GOP, he said, should come up with a platform that will lead the commonwealth in a new direction.
The party, he added, should pay more attention to issues that directly affect the younger generation.
These include education, job opportunities, teenage pregnancy and substance abuse.
Rosario noted that young people are not well-represented in the government.
“If you look at the people in the government, like in the Legislature, how many people belong to the younger generation? You can check it out yourself.”