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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Parañaque solon's bill allows for voting inside shopping malls

Parañaque solon's bill allows for voting inside shopping malls

Published Feb 21, 2023 03:58 pm

Does casting your vote inside the air-conditioned comforts of a shopping mall during elections sound enticing?

A voter's finger is marked with indelible ink. (File photo/ MANILA BULLETIN)


If so, then cross your fingers for the swift passage of House Bill (HB) No.6854 authored by Parañaque City 1st district Rep. Edwin Olivarez. It was filed last Jan. 30.

The full title of the Olivarez bill reads, "An Act establishing the structures and other mechanisms for the allowance of voting in all national and local elections within the premises of shopping malls and appropriating funds thereof."

“This bill seeks to attain the best results for the people and make sure that resources of the government are being utilized to enhance the accessibility of polling places,” the congressman wrote in the explanatory note of his bill.

According to the proposed Mall Voting Convenience Act, it is common practice for Filipinos to flock the malls for a variety of reasons, one of which is for convenience, "given that it has become a one-stop-shop for everyone, a hub on its own where business and recreation take place".

"These establishments maintained by private entities have risen to all the demands of the public; comfort brought by the air conditioning, availability of parking space, sufficient security measures, safety for all its patrons, presence of police authorities within the area, and coordinated control center for the facilities," it added.

"The creation of voting precincts/ sites in these places would yield to better attendance of the voters who will be positively affected by the appropriate progress for the electorate," the four-page bill further read.

Under HB No.6854, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is tasked to set up the structure and other mechanisms to allow voting in all national and local elections, except barangay elections, within the premises of shopping malls.

The poll body will inform the registered voters who will be included on the list of voters entitled to cast their votes in the mall voting sites.

The measure is pending before the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms.

Related Tags

voter malls Voting edwin olivarez Vote Comelec shopping malls 22123
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