Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4177

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article V, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippines constitution provides that,
“Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise
disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall have
resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein they
propose to vote for at least six months immediately preceding the election. No
literacy, property or other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the
exercise of suffrage.”

The right of suffrage is one of the pillars of Philippine democracy, it is the
very soul of people’s expression for the conduct of State affairs. The voting public
should not be constrained or limited in the free exercise thereof by the
overcrowded voting precincts, inconvenient locations and additional burdens that
come along with the whole process. The exercise of such right should then be
allowed to reflect not only the use of modern or computerized technologies by
the Commission on Election (COMELEC) but more so in adapting to the
changing times brought by fast paced lifestyle, and seeking the convenience of
the electorate.

It is a common practice for Filipino to flock the malls for a variety of
reasons, one of which is for convenience. Given that it has become a one-stop
shop for everyone, a hub on its own where business and recreation take place.
These establishments maintained by private entities have risen to all the demands
of the public; comfort brought by the air conditioning, availability of parking
space, sufficient security measures, safety for all its patrons, presence of police
authorities within the area, and coordinated control center for the facilities.

The creation of voting precincts/sites in these places would yield to better
attendance of the voters who will be positively affected by the appropriate
progress for the electorate. This bill seeks to encourage more citizens to exercise
their right to vote through the facilitation of elections by means of providing


comfort, especially for the senior citizens who will be spared of the burden of
going to the crowded public school precincts.

‘The Commission on Election (COMELEC) has piloted a program where
they allowed and actually conducted registration procedures within the premises
of shopping malls in accordance with the normal operating hours, thus the goal
to educate and encourage the people to get registered was achieved. This bill
seeks to attain the best results for the people and make sure that resources of the
government are being utilized to enhance the accessibility of polling places.

Hence the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

IVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.4177

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE STRUCTURES AND OTHER
MECHANISMS FOR THE ALLOWANCE OF VOTING IN ALL
NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS WITHIN THE
PREMISES OF SHOPPING MALLS AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREOF

SECTION 1. Title — This Act shall be known as the “Mall Voting Convenience
Act of 2025”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy — The State shall ensure the free exercise of
the right of suffrage by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified
by law.

SECTION 3. Mall Voting — The Commission on Election (COMELEC) shall set
up structures and other mechanisms to allow the voting in all national and local
elections, except barangay elections, within the premises of shopping malls which
shall include the following:

¢ The List of specific shopping malls which shall be utilized as voting
precincts;

e The transfer of list of voters to be considered in the creation of mall
voting sites who are to vote in such shopping malls as voting
precincts;

© The tallation of voting machine and other devices to be used by
the registered voters;

¢ The manner in which elections shall be conducted in these satellite
voting precincts;

© Such other mechanism necessary for mall voting:

SECTION 4. Notification — The COMELEC shall send a notice to the registered
voter who is included in the list of voters entitled to vote in mall voting sites.


However, any registered voter may opt to avail of the benefits of this Act by
serving a written notice to the COMELEC or by personally informing the
COMELEC or any of its Regional, Provincial, City or Municipal Election
Registrar of the registered voter’s intent to be included in the pertinent voter’s list
who entitled to vote at a particular mall voting site;

SECTION 5. Appropriations — The COMELEC shall include allocation in its
budget programs for the implementation of this Act. The initial funding of this
Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations or from any
available savings of the COMELEC. Thereafter, such amount as may be
necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations — The COMELEC shall
promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations to carry out the provisions
of this Act. Such rules and regulations shall take effect upon their publication in
three (3) newspapers of general circulation.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations and other issuances or parts thereof that are inconsistent with this Act
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following
its publication in at least three (3) national newspapers of general circulation.

APPROVED.