So does this mean that voters can shop, dine, watch a movie and then vote?
Not exactly. It’s not as simple and convenient as it sounds.
COMELEC emphasizes that voting inside malls this upcoming elections is not for everyone, senior citizens and persons with disabilities are the top priorities.
Only about 250,000 voters will be allowed to vote inside air-conditioned malls. They will receive a letter from COMELEC with further instructions, according to a report by Bandila.
There will be 86 private malls which will be turned into voting precints on May 9.
We’re waiting to see how the malls will handle the election day since they will have to be under the control of COMELEC. For example, shops within 30 meters of the voting area need to be closed during voting hours.
We’re hoping that this move will help increase voter turn out so that in the following elections, more of us would be allowed to vote in malls instead of having to endure the long wait in baranggay halls and classrooms.
