Malls open voters' registration booths

MANILA, Philippines (4th UPDATE) – Qualified voters may now register and have their biometrics captured in malls to vote in the May 2016 national elections.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has partnered with top mall operators in the country to set up satellite voters' registration booths inside their respective malls.

Comelec Chairman Andy Bautista said the poll body decided to bring this service to malls to help some voters who find it "difficult or inconvenient" to register in their local Comelec offices.

"No one now will have an excuse as to why they should not validate their biometrics," Bautista said. (READ: How to register for the 2016 elections)

In July and August, voters' registration and biometrics validation are available during mall hours in the following malls:

Ayala malls

July 18 and 19

• TriNoma - for Quezon City, Districts 1, 2, 4, and 6
• Alabang Town Center - for Muntinlupa

Note: The Comelec corrected on Friday, July 10, that there would be no registration booths on Saturday, July 11, at UP Town Center, for voters in Quezon City, District 3, as earlier reported.

Robinsons malls

July 11

• Robinsons Novaliches - for voters in Quezon City, District 5
• Robinsons Metro East - for Pasig City, Districts 1 and 2
• Robinsons Place Manila (Orosa Atrium) - for Manila, Districts 1 to 6
• Robinsons Place Dasmariñas - for Dasmariñas, Cavite
• Robinsons Place Imus - for Imus, Cavite

SM malls

July 11 and 12

• SM Sucat (G/F, Building B) - for voters in Parañaque City
• SM Center Las Piñas (Upper G/F) - for Las Piñas City
• SM Center Valenzuela (2/F) - for Valenzuela City, Districts 1 and 2
• SM Aura (Samsung Hall, Level VI) - for Taguig City

Walter Mart branches - for voters in the town/city where the mall is located

Batangas

• Walter Mart Tanauan - July 17

Bulacan

• Walter Mart Guiguinto - July 25
• Walter Mart Sta. Maria - July 31
• Walter Mart Plaridel - July 31 and August 1

Cavite

• Walter Mart Gen. Trias - July 25

Laguna

• Walter Mart Makiling - July 15
• Walter Mart Calamba - July 17

Nueva Ecija

• Walter Mart Gapan - July 31 and August 1

Pampanga

• Walter Mart San Fernando - July 17 and 18

Other malls

July 12

• Lucky China Town Mall (3/F) - for voters in Manila, District 3

On Wednesday, July 1, the Comelec signed a memorandum of agreement with SM Supermalls for this initiative. SM Supermalls president Annie Garcia said they plan to host these registration booths in all 52 of its malls nationwide.

The poll body earlier also inked deals with Robinsons Land and Ayala Land to host voters' registration and biometrics validation services in their malls.

On July 9, the Comelec signed a partnership with Walter Mart Community Malls to set up booths in its network of malls throughout Luzon.

There are still 4.3 million registered voters who lack or have incomplete biometrics, according to the Comelec. (READ: Voters without biometrics mostly in NCR, Regions III, IV-A)

The poll chief noted that its "No Bio, No Boto" campaign "is a very important campaign that we are undertaking because we do not want to disenfranchise any voter."

Bautista recently confessed that he has yet to validate his biometrics. He then said he will have his biometrics captured on July 19 through the voter's registration booth at TriNoma.

Voters' registration and biometrics validation for the 2016 national and local elections are ongoing until October 31, 2015. These services are mainly available in local Comelec offices. – Rappler.com