COMELEC-Iloilo pushes voter registration with fun run

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By Francis Allan L. Angelo

In a bid to boost voter registration ahead of the upcoming elections, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Iloilo City will hold a unique event combining a fun run with a satellite voter registration on August 24, 2024, at The Shops at Atria, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

Dubbed “Takbo ng Bawat Juan Para sa Halalan,” the event will kick off at 5:30 AM with a 5-kilometer park run at the Atria Park District.

The activity aims not only to promote physical fitness but also to encourage eligible citizens to register as voters, emphasizing that the right to vote begins with voter registration.

“Our goal is to make the process of voter registration more accessible and engaging,” said Election Assistant Jonathan Sayno of COMELEC -Iloilo City.

“By integrating a fun activity like a run, we hope to draw more participants who may not have been motivated to register otherwise.”

The voter registration will start immediately after the run at 8:00 AM and will continue until 5:00 PM.

The event will feature various types of voter registration services, including new registrations, transfer of registration records, reactivation, correction of entries, and the Register Anywhere Program (RAP), which allows voters to register regardless of their current location.

Participants are encouraged to wear white running attire and bring at least one valid ID, both in original and photocopy, for the registration.

As an incentive, free coffee and refreshments, including pandesal, will be provided to early registrants.

In addition to the fun run and registration, there will be a short program with games, raffle prizes, and a mini press conference to further highlight the importance of voter participation.

“This is a free event, open to everyone. We believe that civic engagement can start with such community-driven initiatives,” Sayno added.

With just over a year until the next national elections, this event is part of COMELEC’s broader effort to increase voter turnout by making the registration process more convenient and community-focused.