Political figure Gasataya petitions Comelec chairman for aid in facilitating voter's registration process
In the lead-up to the 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, Bacolod City has been making strides to ensure a smooth and secure voter registration process. Mayor Greg Gasataya coordinated with Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia to implement improvements in the city's voter registration, with August 10 being the deadline for registrations.
On August 9, thousands of registrants flocked to Robinsons Place Bacolod, causing overcrowding and safety concerns. City Election Officer Kathrina Trinio-Caña reported that at least 800 registrants were accommodated on Saturday, exceeding their daily capacity of 600. In response, some units of air blaster were sent to the registration area, and the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) was coordinated to control the crowd.
To prevent overcrowding and ensure safety during voter registrations in malls or public places, election authorities should implement a combination of crowd management, health, and logistical measures. These include scheduling appointments or time slots for voter registration, setting up multiple registration stations, using electronic check-in and registration systems, clearly marking waiting areas and providing physical distancing guides, deploying trained staff or security personnel, providing and encouraging the use of masks and hand sanitizers, communicating all procedures and safety measures in advance, and offering alternative voter registration methods.
The Comelec-Bacolod started the satellite registration activities in various areas in the city from August 1 and ended on August 10. The registration at Robinsons Place Bacolod was part of these activities, conducted from August 6 to 10, 2025. Some voter-registrants were seen lining up in front of the mall on Friday evening. However, a commotion and scuffle in the line delayed the registration.
Mayor Gasataya expressed his gratitude to Garcia for his immediate response to address the voter's registration problem in the city. Comelec reminded voter-registrants, especially students and those working, to visit their office early and comply with the requirements to avoid long queues. Garcia assured Mayor Gasataya of making adjustments and coordinated with the official of the Comelec-Bacolod.
Mayor Gasataya stated that everyone deserves to exercise their right to vote in safety and comfort. He emphasised the importance of orderly and safe voter registrations in Bacolod City. By combining these approaches, election organisers can manage crowds efficiently, minimise safety risks, and provide a smooth voter registration experience in public, high-traffic settings like malls.
[1] Electronic poll books streamline voter registration and check-in processes. (n.d.). National Association of Secretaries of State. https://www.nass.org/resources/electronic-poll-books-streamline-voter-registration-and-check-in-processes/
[2] Online voter registration. (n.d.). National Conference of State Legislatures. https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/online-voter-registration.aspx
[3] Vermont Elections. (n.d.). Vermont Secretary of State. https://vermont-secretary-of-state.civicplus.com/Elections/Pages/default.aspx
- In light of the overwhelming turnout during the voter registration period in Bacolod City, including the packed Robinsons Place mall, implementing online voter registration could help manage crowds more efficiently and provide a safer registration experience for all, as exemplified in the state of Vermont.
- To further streamline the voter registration process and mitigate the risk of overcrowding in malls or public places, like what happened in Bacolod City, catching up with modern electoral practices, such as using electronic poll books for quick and secure registration, might be a beneficial step, as demonstrably practiced by various jurisdictions across the US.
