Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN 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 the whole process. The exercise of such right should then be modified 
to reflect not only the used 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 people. 
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 
January 23, 2023
2:41 pm
6854


comfort, especially for the senior citizens who will escape 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. 
EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE STRUCTURES AND OTHER 
MEDCHANISMS 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 2023”. 
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;
•
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 installation 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. 
6854


However, any registered voter may opt to avail a written notice to the COMELEC 
or by informing in the person the COMELEC or any of its Regional, Provincial, 
City or Municipal Election Registrar; 
 
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.