THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday called for the passage of a law that will allow senior citizens (SC) and persons with disability (PWDs) to vote ahead of the general public.
In a public forum, Elections chairman George Garcia said: “Let us work together to push for the early voting for senior citizens and PWDs. We should demand that the elderly and PWDs should vote early.”
“There should be a law allowing the Comelec to do that. We still have the time to do it. It is only 2022. In 2 years’ time, hopefully, we can push this,” he said, adding that the early voting for seniors and PWDs can be implemented as soon as the May 2025 polls.
He said the elderly and people with disabilities may be allowed to vote at least a week before Election Day.
“We can always protect the ballots. It is doable. We can do early voting at least for one week,” Garcia stressed.
Garcia said such a privilege may be provided to the elderly and PWDs similar to those provided to policemen, military, teachers, media men, and others under the Local Absentee Voting (LAV).
“If the media, police, teachers, military personnel are allowed to vote earlier, why not PWDs and senior citizens,” he said.
If this is permitted, the poll chief said more elderly and PWDs will be able to cast their votes faster and with less hassle.
“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 majority of the voters,” said Garcia.
In previous elections, the Comelec has established Emergency Accessible Polling Places (EAPPs) in all voting centers nationwide for the Election Day.
Eligible to vote in the EAPPs are PWDs and senior citizens as these are established at the ground floor of a voting center, free of any physical barriers, and provided with necessary services, including assistive devices.
