The Commission on Elections (Comelec) wants to tap malls as voting centers for the May 2025 midterm polls.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said that this move would minimize crowding during voting, and prevent the “wear and tear” of facilities of public schools that are usually utilized as voting centers.

“If we are in this kind of place, the place is conducive, the queues are organized, we do not have to use schools for the voting anymore. If ever there are other places that can be provided to us for free, like malls, it would be better,” Garcia said.

He noted that the Comelec is currently holding voter registration in selected malls all over the country. This started on February 12 and will end on September 30, he added.

“Some 171 malls are allowing us to use their space for our voter registration. We saw that this system is possible, that we can make use of other public places other than elementary schools,” he explained.

The Comelec chairman emphasized that if the idea of using the malls pushes through, there will be ample consultations on precincts that are going to be transferred to malls.

“The malls are in the town proper. Of course, we would not transfer precincts located in far-flung areas to malls. These can apply only to areas near malls. We need a bigger space because people will flock there. I hope malls would participate in our mall voting plan,” he said.

Garcia clarified that they would still be tapping public schools as voting centers, particularly in far-flung areas.

“Of course, there are areas where we have no choice but to use elementary schools as these are the only conducive facilities in a village, especially in far flung areas,” he pointed out.

He mentioned that the participating malls in the current seven-month voter registration period are the SM Supermalls, Robinsons Malls, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, and Filinvest Festival Malls.

📷: Comelec FB