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Comelec mulls holding elections in malls


The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is studying the feasibility of holding elections inside malls as part of its efforts to make voting more convenient to the public.

At a press briefing, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista noted that some private schools in the country had already been tapped as venues for elections in the past.
 
“If we can do it in private schools, why can’t we do it in other public facilities such as malls?” he asked.

Commissioner Luie Guia pointed out that the poll body had conducted the voting for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens inside malls during the October 2013 barangay polls.

“We did that in the last elections in four barangays in four SM malls for PWDs and senior citizens,” he said. “So there is that opportunity for us to have a more inclusive election next year.”
 
Section 42 of the Omnibus Election Code states that public schools or any other public buildings within the barangay shall be used as polling places.
 
It said in case that there is no public school or other public building that can be used as polling places, other appropriate private buildings may be designated.
 
The Comelec has tapped three major malls in the country — SM, Robinson’s Malls and Ayala Malls — as venues for the holding of biometrics registrations.
 
SM Supermalls President Annie Garcia supported the idea of holding elections in their malls, noting that it is part of their company’s corporate social responsibility to extend assistance to the government and the community.
 
“The malls are equipped with air-conditioning, good parking, good transport terminals. We also have company nurses and many facilities for the average Filipinos. So it makes perfect sense even for us to participate in the elections,” she said. —KBK, GMA News

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