No mall precincts here in Bohol, says Comelec

TAGBILARAN CITY, January 27 (PIA)— The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) may have thought putting voting precincts at the malls may improve access of voters during elections, but mall voting won’t happen in Bohol. 

Comelec Bohol supervisor Atty Eliseo Labaria said recently that Bohol is just too small and most of our precincts are set up that, even as the central office has been conducting public consultations in Manila.

The move to open up voting precincts in the malls is in line with the poll body’s initiatives to improve access especially to senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and their convenience during elections.

The Comelec however does this when in some areas practicable, in its efforts to make the elections more and more participative and inclusive. 

The Comelec has reportedly used mall voting in the 2013 elections, but it was small scale.

After that, a validation survey conducted by the poll body showed that about 60% of their respondents agreed that putting up voting precincts in the malls can facilitate PWD and senior citizen’s ease of voting. 

Voting in the schools have been quite an experience for senior citizens and PWDs.

Schools which were earlier built were not designed to give easy access to senior citizens and PWD, as compared to the mandatory compliance of malls in the implementation of PWD access ramps. 

In Bohol however, local Comelec said the precincts are small and if the Borard of Inspectors are efficient, the voting is expected to be a breeze. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)