COMELEC and SM Supermalls Strengthen Partnership to Make Voter Registration and Mall Voting More Accessible for 2026 Elections

COMELEC Commissioner Rey E. Bulay and Chairman George Garcia, alongside SM Supermalls Vice President for Mall Operations Junias Eusebio and Assistant Vice President Royston Cabunag, officially renewed their partnership for voter registration and mall voting for the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

The Memorandum of Agreement signing took place on December 2 at the COMELEC Office in Intramuros, Manila, marking another milestone in both institutions’ shared mission to make voter services safer, more convenient, and accessible to Filipinos nationwide.

SM Supermalls Vice President for Mall Operations Junias Eusebio highlighted the impressive growth of the initiative over the years. From just six participating malls in the 2023 BSKE, the Mall Voting Program expanded to 20 malls during the 2025 National and Local Elections. Currently, 23 SM malls are already scheduled to serve as voter registration sites with more locations to be added leading up to May 2026. During the special registration period in August 2025, 47 sites across the country welcomed voters, with over 2.8 million Filipinos registering in just 10 days.

“These numbers show not only growth but the public’s strong preference for organized, secure, and accessible venues for voter registration and participation,” Eusebio said. “This partnership proves that collaboration between the public and private sectors can modernize the voting process and strengthen democracy.”

COMELEC officials praised SM Supermalls for supporting voter services that benefit senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant voters, and first-time youth voters. Mall-based registration and voting provide comfortable, well-lit, and highly accessible spaces for all. The recent surge in registrations underscores the importance of bringing voter services closer to communities.

Through this renewed partnership, selected SM malls nationwide will continue to host voter registration and mall voting activities, helping boost voter turnout and enhancing the overall election experience for communities.

The signing ceremony was attended by COMELEC Chairman George Garcia, Commissioners, key agency officials, and SM Supermalls executives led by Vice President Junias Eusebio. The partnership reflects a shared goal: making voter services more accessible and empowering every Filipino to actively participate in the democratic process.