PROPOSALS are now on their way for the possible conduct of the mid-term elections in shopping malls. Now we might be sharing the convenience of the polls in malls someday when the proposal becomes a law.
Elections in the country are usually done in public schools or in public covered courts. The electoral exercise is often marred by hot, humid and crowded polling places. Save to those young and middle-aged persons, but voting stations bring inconvenience and complaints from the little older ones, the senior citizens and the persons with disabilities.
Voting need not be inconvenient when it shall be done in air-conditioned environment with right and ample space for a crowd. One that can be proposed for an alternative voting center are the malls which have fully air-conditioned spaces that are very conducive for the voting.
The proponents for the mid-term mall voting perhaps got the idea when these private commercial establishments were used as vaccination sites for the public. Despite the large volume of people, big spaces such as event centers and cinema houses have provided conducive places for them.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Aimee Ferolino is among those who are reviving the proposal. She said that malls are now catering the Comelec's registration of voters in various parts of the country. The poll body has even set up satellite offices in some malls.
It was during the time of former Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista in 2016 when he proposed for the mall voting project. Commissioners however scrapped the proposal because of some provisions of the Omnibus Election Code on the transfer of voting venues.
Since the midterm election is still years away, the poll body may consider the proposal to set this early the venues for voting including malls. Perhaps they can appreciate now the idea, the benefit and advantages from such.
Shopping malls on the other hand, are very much welcome to the idea since they can get rake up their sales once the election is held in malls. Its very beneficial to these malls because the idea would be a good crowd-drawer.
It is high time that the election body should consider the voting in malls project as it will bring long-deserved convenience to the electorates, save the government some funds and help these establishments generate sales.
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