THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced its plan to utilize 62 shopping malls nationwide as voting centers for all three elections scheduled in 2025, replacing public schools.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia stated that agreements have been signed with participating malls and telecommunication companies to facilitate this initiative.
Garcia highlighted the mutual benefits of the “mall voting” program, emphasizing that it incurs no additional cost to Comelec due to the free provision of mall facilities. He also suggested that this approach would help reduce vote-buying and election-related violence. He described the partnership as symbiotic, benefiting both the Comelec and the malls while serving the greater national interest of ensuring clean and honest elections.
The program will only allow voters from barangay precincts located near the five selected malls to cast their ballots in those locations.
Precinct selection involved consultations with political parties and other election stakeholders. A pilot program successfully tested this approach during the October 30, 2023 barangay and village elections in 11 malls across Metro Manila, Legazpi City, and Cebu City.
