The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday disclosed it would allow mall voting in next year’s elections.
This as the poll body said mall voting will be held in 10 sites during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) this October.
Eight of the malls are in Metro Manila and one each in Cebu and Legazpi City, said Comelec chairman George Garcia..
“Ito po ay libreng ipinagkakaloob sa atin ng mall owners o operators… lahat po ng mga pasilidad, kahit mga gamit at mga tao nila, ay ipinapagamit po sa atin nang libre,” Garcia said in a radio interview.
The Comelec on Saturday conducted simulated mall voting in four areas.
Garcia quoted some of the participants as saying the experience was great because the whole polling place was air-conditioned and secured, while the process was seamless and speedy.
Helen Graido, policy consultant of election watchdog Lente, urged the Comelec to move polling areas to the malls’ ground floor, which she said was more accessible for seniors, persons with disability, and the pregnant.
She also suggested a wider information drive for voters who will be part of the mall voting’s pilot run.
