Lor NESE,
TN

Republic Of The Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No.___ 6361

Introduced by Representative ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article V, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine 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 Elections (COMELEC) but more so in adapting
to the changing times brought by fast paced lifestyle and
seeking the convenience of the people.


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 escape the burden of going to the crowded
public school precincts.

The Commission on Elections (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.

ow C. oy
ERIC L. OLIVAREZ


6361

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 2015”.

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 Elections
(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 machines 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 mechanisms necessary for mall voting;

SECTION 4. Notification - The COMELEC shall sent a notice to
the registered voters who is included in the list of voters
entitled to vote in mall voting sites. However, any registered
voter may opt to avail the right to vote in mall voting sites


either by giving a written notice to the COMELEC or by
informing in 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.