Let’s Vote PINAS, a Vote Counting Machine (VCM) Demo and Experience offered to the public by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and SM Supermalls, was launched today, April 18, 2022 at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.
In attendance were COMELEC Chairman Hon. Saidamen B. Pangarungan, COMELEC Commissioners Hon. Socorro B. Inting, Hon. Marlon S. Casquejo, Hon. Aimee P. Ferolino, Hon. Rey E. Bulay, Hon. George Erwin M. Garcia, and Hon. Aimee Torrefranca-Neri, SM Supermalls President Steven T. Tan, and SM Supermalls Sr. Vice President for Operations Bien C. Mateo.
The Let’s Vote PINAS initiative is part of COMELEC’s Voter Education program, with the goal of increasing public confidence in the usage of the VCM, and providing a hands-on, educational experience in preparation for the Philippine National Elections on May 9, 2022. This initiative is not exclusive to registered voters, as the COMELEC intends to encourage Filipinos of all ages to educate themselves on the voting process.
Which SM Supermalls will participate?
Let’s Vote PINAS will be supported by all 78 SM Supermalls by providing a venue, physical setup, and strong WiFi connection to mimic the election day on May 9. COMELEC will offer 800 mock ballots per mall every day, for a total of 500,000 mock ballots to be used across 78 SM Supermalls nationwide. The local COMELEC offices will oversee running the demonstrations within the SM Malls – the COMELEC’s sole partner in the Let’s Vote PINAS initiative.
When will it occur?
The SM Supermalls within the NCR/Pampanga/Bulacan/CALABARZON areas will hold their demos from April 20-24, while the remainder of Luzon/Bicol/VisMin SM Malls will hold theirs from April 22-24, 2022.
**It should be noted that no documentation will be required for all participants.
It is critical that Filipinos improve their understanding of the procedures for the national elections; and, thanks to this joint effort between COMELEC and SM Supermalls, we can refresh our understanding of the processes, which will most certainly lead to an efficient, safe, and honest election day on May 9, 2022.
