Comelec prepares to hold balloting in Cagayan de Oro mall

CARAVAN. Commission on Elections personnel and representatives from various agencies, including the Bureau of Fire Protection and community organizations, gather at the SM City CDO Uptown terminal before the start of the Barangay Caravan and Assembly on April 29, to promote the Mall Voting Program ahead of the May 2025 elections. Photo courtesy of Comelec-Cagayan de Oro City

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In preparation for the May 12 midterm elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) here, in collaboration with SM City CDO Uptown and various other partners, held a barangay caravan and assembly on Tuesday to promote the mall voting program.

This aimed to raise public awareness about holding the balloting inside the mall — a pilot Comelec program meant to improve accessibility, convenience, and efficiency in the voting process.

The caravan snaked through the streets of Barangay Carmen here, participated by representatives from the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), and the Federation of Uptown Village Homeowners Associations, highlighting the strong multi-sectoral support for voter education and electoral accessibility.

Following the motorcade, an assembly was held at the mall’s event hall where voters were briefed on mall voting procedures and precinct guidelines.

READ: Comelec: Legitimate sample ballots okay

Voting in some 38 precincts of Barangay Carmen, the city’s most populous village, is set to be held at the SM City CDO Uptown mall on May 12.

Specifically, these are for precincts 0387A, 0387B, 0387C, 0387D, 0387E, 0387F, 0387G, 0387H, 0387I, 0387J, 0387K, 0387L, 0387M, 0387N, 0387O, 0387P, 0387Q, 0387R, 0388A, 0388B, 0388C, 0388D, 0388E, 0388F, 0388G, 0388H, 0388I, 0388J, 0388K, 0388L, 0388M, 0388N, 0388O, 0388P, 0388Q, 0388R, 0388S and 0388T.

The Comelec underscored the need for collaborative efforts by government agencies, civil society groups, and the private sector in promoting a more inclusive and orderly voting experience. It urged registered voters to stay informed and engaged, and to contact the local election office or visit official online platforms to gain more information about the mall voting program in the city and in other parts of the country.