Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Citing the high registration turnout in Metro Manila during the weekend, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it will open more satellite registration and validation booths in malls.
According to Comelec data, more than 5,200 people went to malls for voter registration and validation over the weekend, beating the turnout in local election offices.
“I was told that on a regular day in the election office, only a handful go. But because of this pilot project, you could see that people like going to malls,” Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said on Tuesday (July 7).
The Comelec announced that it will also open satellite registration and validation booths in Walter Mart Community Malls to reach out to voters in Luzon.
Related: Voters in 8 Metro Manila cities can register in malls
“We want to bring the success of mall registration in Metro Manila to the provinces,” Bautista said.
He added that he expects similar, if not better, results with the partnership.
“Walter Mart Malls are located very near communities. This is why we are confident that voters will surely flock to the satellite registration booths that will be set-up inside its malls.”
Bautista said that satellite booths in Walter Mart will cover six provinces — Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, and Bulacan.
Voter registration and validation is set on July 15, 17, 18, 25, 31, and August 1 on the following mall branches:
Walter Mart Makiling, Laguna 10am-8pm
Walter Mart Calamba, Laguna 10am-9pm
Walter Mart Tanauan, Batangas 9am-9pm
Walter Mart San Fernando, Pampanga 10am-9pm
Walter Mart Guiguinto, Bulacan 10am-8pm
Walter Mart Gen. Trias, Cavite 9am-8pm
Walter Mart Sta. Maria, Bulacan 10am-9pm
Walter Mart Plaridel, Bulacan 10am-9pm
Walter Mart Gapan, Nueva Ecija 10am-9pm
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Satellite booths will also be set-up at Gaisano Malls to cover areas in the Visayas and Mindanao, according to Bautista.
He added that Comelec is also considering the option of having the public vote in malls.
“We want to make it more convenient for our voters. There are several advantages but there are also logistical challenges.”
But the Comelec chairman also raised concerns on whether such a move is allowed by law.
‘No bio, No boto’
Earlier, the Comelec said that about 4.3 million voters are without biometrics, which could cost them their vote.
Under the ‘No Bio, No Boto’ campaign of the poll body, voters are required to register their biometrics and submit themselves for validation to be able to exercise the right in the upcoming 2016 elections.
Those who are uncertain whether they have completed the requirement can check the Comelec website for the list of voters without biometrics.
‘ ’28’: ‘image’: ‘jcr:a0c16c0c-4899-40ed-bcdd-93c7d125128f’ ‘imageCaption’: ‘Comelec has a search engine to help voters find out if they
