Cultivating a Culture of Voting Beyond the Deadline Rush

Once again, the final day of voter registration in Iloilo City drew a massive crowd, with numbers surging by an impressive 300%.

While the sudden burst on the last day is a sign of enthusiasm, it also reflects a recurring habit among Filipino voters—the tendency to wait until the last minute. This “Filipino Time” behavior is something we often criticize in daily life, but when it comes to our democratic processes, the implications are far more serious.

The surge, as noted by COMELEC-Iloilo City’s Jonathan Sayno, saw the highest turnout of the entire registration period. From the typical 200 daily registrants, the number ballooned to around 1,200, forcing election officers to extend registration procedures just to accommodate the overflow. However, the high turnout should also be seen as a positive indicator: it demonstrates that many people, despite procrastinating, genuinely want to vote.

This eagerness to register, albeit late, serves as a reminder of the growing recognition of the value of voting. Yet, we must ask ourselves: Are Filipinos truly aware of the weight that their vote carries? Is the decision to vote driven by an informed choice or merely by a sense of civic duty without deeper consideration?

It is crucial that we move beyond seeing voter registration as something we rush to finish at the last minute. Inculcating the culture of voting in a democracy means understanding that our right to vote is a privilege and a duty. This right is not simply about casting a ballot, but about making a deliberate, educated decision based on the needs of the community and the country.

Many of those who lined up on the final day shared meaningful stories—first-time voters, those who were previously disenfranchised, and others who were reactivating their voter status. These personal accounts highlight that people still believe in the power of their vote. But it is not enough that we show up. We must vote based on what we believe is best for the nation and not because we were convinced by others, promised benefits, or swayed by political noise.

The urgency that we see on the last day of registration should be redirected toward learning about the candidates, understanding their platforms, and evaluating whether their vision aligns with the future we want for our city and our country. With the voter registration period over, our focus should now shift toward the next stage of the electoral process: the selection of candidates. Let us carry the same energy to the polls in 2025, but this time, let it be driven by conscious, thoughtful choices, not mere participation.

Every election is a reminder that democracy thrives when its citizens take an active role in it. In the coming months, as we head toward the midterm elections, let us reflect on the kind of future we want for Iloilo City and the Philippines. Democracy is more than just a process—it is the manifestation of our freedom and the legacy of those who fought for it. We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to take this responsibility seriously.