Village, SK polls in malls?
A PLAN to let voters cast their votes at shopping malls across the country in the 2025 national and local polls deserves the support of the Filipino people, notably the electorate.
Various quarters acknowledged that the establishment of poll precincts in malls, mostly fully-airconditioned, is seen to encourage more people to go out and vote on election day.
That’s why the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking into the possibility of conducting a pilot test on holding the village and youth polls in October in select shopping malls.
The poll body, chaired by veteran election lawyer George Garcia, announced this after successfully conducting its experimental “register anywhere” project for new voters.
Earlier this year, Garcia said the “register anywhere” project “is a step towards having people cast their votes in more convenient places, like malls, instead of public schools.
“Preparatory lang po ‘yon, naisip na rin po ng commission na kung kayang magpa-rehistro, bakit hindi rin tayo mag-pilot test ngayong barangay and SK elections ng mall voting?” he asked.
We share Garcia’s view that it would be more convenient for the registered voters, particularly the elderly and persons with disability (PWDs), as they would surely go to malls and vote.
“At hindi na rin madi-distract ang pag-aaral ng mga bata kasi hindi na nating gagamitin ang mga pampublikong paaralan tuwing may halalan,” added a retired public school teacher.
At the same time, the poll chairman said he had already discussed the plan with shopping mall operators.
Chairman Garcia said the mall operators welcomed the idea and even suggested opening their establishments earlier than their regular working hours.
