Special polling centers ready for senior citizens, PWDs

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will set up four special polling precincts in malls where 260 selected senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) will vote in the coming barangay elections.

Comelec Commissioner Grace Padaca said the poll body designated pilot polling precincts in four SM malls for the implementation of the law authorizing the Comelec to establish polling precincts for the elderly and PWDs.

“We opened four SM Accessible Polling Places with one each in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and National Capital Region,” Padaca said.

Senior citizens and PWDs in Barangay 659 in the 5th District of Manila (37 voters) shall vote in SM City Manila instead of Manuel Araullo High School, while those in Barangay Sabang, Lipa City in Batangas (44 voters) shall vote in SM City Lipa instead of GB Lontok Elementary School.

The elderly and PWDs in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City (77 voters) shall vote in SM City Cebu instead of Mabolo Elementary School, while those in Barangay Lagao, General Santos City (68 voters) will go to SM City General Santos instead of Lagao Central School.

Padaca clarified that the selected senior citizens and PWDs have the option to vote in the SM Accessible Polling Places or in their regular polling precincts.

But the voting time in SM Accessible Polling Places would be shorter than the voting hours in regular polling precincts. The special polling precincts will only be open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“It is shorter because the ballots will still have to be brought back to their regular polling precincts to be counted,” Padaca explained.

Earlier, the Comelec issued Resolution 9763 providing that the Accessible Polling Places shall provide assistors, communication assistance, and visual assistance for senior citizens and PWDs.