Comelec bats anew for law on early voting for elderly, PWDs

Garcia is planning to hold the early voting for SCs and PWDs for at least seven days. (Arianne Lacanilao/PCI Photo)

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is hoping that a law allowing senior citizens (SC) and persons with disability (PWDs) to vote ahead of the rest of the population during polls will be passed soon.

“There should be a law allowing the Comelec to do that. We still have the time to do it. It is only 2022. In two years’ time, hopefully, we can push this. Let us work together to push for early voting for senior citizens and PWDs. We should demand that the elderly and PWDs should vote early,” Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said in a forum in Pasay City on Tuesday.

Garcia is planning to hold the early voting for SCs and PWDs for at least seven days.

“We can always protect the ballots. It is doable. We can do early voting at least for one week,” he said.

The poll body chief said this measure will enable members of the vulnerable sectors to cast their votes faster and hassle-free.

“Everybody can vote on the ground floor. There will be no more long lines for PWDs and seniors since they will not be voting along with the majority of the voters,” he said.

Currently, only teachers who serve as poll workers, media members, and uniformed personnel are allowed for early voting under the local absentee voting (LAV).

“If we allow media, the PNP (Philippine National Police), teachers, the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines). Why can’t we allow PWDs and senior colleagues to vote early, even for just a week,” he added.

In past elections, the Comelec has established Emergency Accessible Polling Places (EAPPs) in all voting centers nationwide for Election Day.

The EAPPs are specifically intended for PWDs and senior citizens and are located on the ground floor of polling centers for easy access.