Comelec mulls registration at malls for absentee voters

MANILA, Philippines - Overseas Filipinos may also be allowed to register as voters in shopping malls.

Chairman Andres Bautista said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is studying this and other options, including setting up mall-based satellite registration centers to encourage more overseas Filipinos to participate in next year’s elections.

“Filipinos like to converge in malls,” he said.

“And we would like to take advantage of this opportunity,” Bautista explained.

However, Bautista said allowing overseas Filipinos to register as voters in shopping malls could be difficult as they need to seek the approval of owners.

“We are not sure if mall owners abroad will agree on our request to use their facilities,” he said.

They also have to seek the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on the idea, Bautista said.

At present, overseas absentee voting registration is being done through the filing of applications in any Philippine Foreign Service Posts or through the online iRehistro system.

The Overseas Voting Act of 2013 allows the Comelec to explore systems for onsite and remote voter registration.

The Comelec hopes to convince an additional one million new overseas absentee voters to register until the Oct. 31 deadline.