Comelec creates special polling places for ‘vulnerable’ voters

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will establish special polling places for voters who belong to vulnerable sectors.

In Resolution No. 10761 released on Wednesday, the poll body said registered voters who are persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens (SC), and heavily pregnant voters will be casting their votes at the Accessible Polling Place (APP), Emergency Accessible Polling Place (EAPP) or Satellite-Emergency Accessible Polling Place (S-EAPP) that will be erected in the polling centers or places approved by the poll body.

The APP will be located on the ground floor, preferably near the entrance of the building, and is free of any physical barriers and provided with necessary services, including assistive devices.

The EAPP is a room or makeshift/temporary polling place established on the first floor or at the ground of a voting center or outside of it but in close proximity thereto.

On the other hand, the S-EAPP is an EAPP temporarily established in a building used as a home or residence of PWDs and/or SCs, including rehabilitation centers and sheltered workshops where concerned PWDs and/or SCs are living or outside thereof but in close proximity thereto, whether administered by the government or a private institution.

Those who may avail of the EAPP/S-EAPP are PWD and SC voters who did not avail of APP pursuant to Resolution No. 976310; PWD voters who failed to update their registration records during the continuing registration of voters; voters who become disabled, temporarily or permanently, after the continuing registration of voters ended; and voters who are already six months pregnant.

The poll body said PWD and SC voters, who manifested their intent to vote in APP will not be allowed to vote in the EAPP/S-EAPP.

At least 10 PWD, SC, and/or heavily pregnant voters, including wheelchair-users and assistors, will be allowed inside EAPPs, at any given time.

The Comelec added that a PWD, SC, or heavily pregnant voter may opt to vote in the EAPP or in the polling place where his/her precinct is assigned.

Voting in EAPP and S-APP shall be based on a first-come and first-serve basis.

On election day, voting in EAPP shall be from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., while voting in S-EAPPs shall be from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The poll body has identified the following areas as S-EAPP for the May 9 polls:

— Hospicio de San Jose, Manila, 5th District;

— Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc., Cainta, Rizal;

— National Vocational Rehabilitation Center (NVRC), Quezon City, 3rd District.