The Commission on Elections conduct a community assembly and voter education lecture caravan on the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections mall voting in a partnered mall in Parañaque City on October 17, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Thursday it would set up voting precincts at malls during the 2025 midterm elections. 

The pilot run of mall voting during the 2023 Village and Youth Council polls was a success, noted Comelec Chairman George Garcia.

“Lahat ng malls sa buong bansa lalong lalo sa Metro Manila magpapaboto po tayo,” Garcia said. “Mas komportable, mas malamig-lamig ng onti, walang vote buying, walang violence, walang dumi, walang kalat.”

(We will have voting in all malls in the country, especially in Metro Manila. It’s more comfortable, a bit colder, there is no vote buying, no violence, no dirt, no litter.)

This does not mean, however, that voting in schools will no longer take place.

“Mayroon po kaming tinatawag na consultation process. Ibig sabihin, kung majority ng mga nakatira diyan sa barangay na ‘yan o sa presintong ‘yan gusto ilipat ang kanilang pagboto sa mall, saka po namin kayo ililipat. Hindi po namin pupuwersahin ang paglipat ng venue ng pagboto,” Garcia said.

(We have a so-called consultation process. This means if majority of those who live in a village or in a precinct want to vote in the mall, then that’s when we will transfer them. We will not force the change in voting venue.)

The poll chief assured that mall voting would pose no additional cost to the government. The partnership will supposedly be beneficial to mall owners since more people will flock to their establishments and spend on food and other merchandise.

The specific malls which will be used for voting are still to be identified.

REGISTER ANYWHERE PROGRAM

Garcia and other Comelec officials were at University of Santo Tomas for the Register Anywhere Program (RAP).

Under the program, the poll body partners with schools, government offices, private companies, malls, and other establishments to bring voter registration to the public.

Filipinos may also update their information, transfer or reactivate their registration, and avail of other services.

Sebastian Mendoza, a UST administrator, was one of those who lined up to transfer his registration. He said it was convenient that the poll body brought the registration to the university.

Ianne Tan, a grade 12 student, came to UST even though he did not have classes since he wanted to register. For Tan, the elections is a crucial part of democracy.

More than a month since the voter registration started in the country, about 1.3 million have registered, according to Garcia.

The Comelec aims to register 3 million new voters.

PAY FOR USE OF SCHOOLS

The Comelec also hopes to receive more budget to pay for the use of schools that will be voting venues.

This is in line with the concern raised last year by Vice President and Department of Education Secretary Sara Duterte that public schools shoulder expenses incurred during elections such as bills for utilities and repairs.

“Kami ay magpo-propose na ng budget sa DBM (Department of Budget and Management). Nasa DBM na po ‘yan, later on sa Kongreso, kung papayag sila na makapagbayad tayo ng paggamit ng kuryente, paggamit man lang sa mga tubig,” Garcia said.  

(We will propose a budget to DBM. It is up to the DBM, and later on Congress, if they will allow us to pay for electricity or the use of water.)