BINALONAN, Pangasinan, Feb. 26 (PIA) -- Around 400 youth from eastern Pangasinan joined the 2024 Voter Education and Registration Fair conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Feb. 21 at the Ramon J. Guico Sr. Sports complex and civic center in this town.

Atty. Marino Salas, provincial election supervisor of Comelec Pangasinan, said the activity is part of the information and education campaign of Comelec that aims to educate voters on their right to suffrage and encourage youth to participate in the ongoing registration.

To make registration more convenient for unregistered voters during the fair, the Register Anywhere Program (RAP) was also conducted where an individual can register to vote regardless of his current residence.

Salas said voter education and registration fairs discussed details on registration processes, individuals' right to vote, and how they could be empowered through voting.

“Especially to our youth, voting is very sacred because all of the sovereign power emanates from the people. Vote is very important; that is why we encourage everyone to register,” Salas said.

He said unregistered but qualified voters are welcome to register at any Comelec office, as the registration schedule will run until Sept. 30, 2024.

Salas said Comelec offices will accept applications for registration from Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays, except March 28-30 for the observance of Holy Week.

He said the public may also visit the Facebook pages of the Comelec offices in their area for the schedule of satellite registration being conducted at various sites and barangays in the province.

He also reminded the public that the following registration forms used on registration sites are free of charge: CEF-1 (Registration/Application), OVF-1, supplementary data form, certification (not included in LVRD), and affidavit of identification.

The public may also download the forms from the Comelec website at www.comelec.gov.ph.

Meanwhile, John Christopher Morente, a 20-year-old student from the University of Eastern Pangasinan, expressed his gratitude to Comelec for conducting an information drive and bringing the registration process closer to students in eastern Pangasinan.

“For me, registering is significant since it is the beginning of using my right to vote and select a leader who will lead our community,” Morente said. (JCR/MJTAB/EMSA/AG/PIA Pangasinan)