Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Tuesday, Oct. 18 that he will push for earlier voting schedules for persons with disability (PWDs) and senior citizens.
In a public briefing, Garcia stated that this is one of his reform agendas and that he will not be satisfied with just providing them with emergency polling precincts.
He stated that if the members of the media, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and teachers are allowed to vote early, senior citizens and PWDs can also be considered.
An EAPP or an emergency accessible polling place is a makeshift or temporary polling place where a person with disability (PWD), senior citizen, and heavily pregnant voter may cast their vote.
If ever this will push through, Garcia said that they will be allowed to vote a week before the actual election date. He stated, however, that a law would be required for Comelec to be able to do this.
He added that they will be allowed to vote on the ground floor and there will no longer be long lines since they will not vote on the same date as the rest of the voters. Garcia hopes that this can be dealt with in two years' time.