Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara on Thursday, November 2 pushed for the passage of the bill granting early voting privileges for the elderly citizens and persons with disability or PWDs.

Angara called for the institutionalization of this policy following the positive results of the Commission on Election’s (Comelec) pilot implementation of an early voting scheme for senior citizens and PWDs during the recent barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections last October 30. 

In filing Senate Bill No. 777, the senator said it is imperative to enhance elderly voters and PWDs’ accessibility to voting precincts by giving them early voting privileges and which should be readily implemented in the next elections.

“It is encouraging to hear from our Comelec Chairman (George Garcia) about the positive reception of our senior citizens and PWDs to the early voting scheme in the two pilot cities,” Angara said in a statement.

“It clearly shows that in spite of difficulties they experience, they always make it a point to exercise their right to suffrage,” the senator added.

The poll chief earlier hailed the “blockbuster” turnout in the pilot implementation of the early voting for seniors and PWDs in Naga and Muntinlupa City, where they showed up as early as 5 a.m. to cast their votes for the barangay election.

Garcia, at the same time, urged Congress to pass the measure allowing vulnerable sectors to vote early or ahead of the scheduled elections so the policy can already be implemented nationwide in the 2025 elections.

In filing the bill, Angara said he finds it necessary to allow seniors and PWDs to cast their votes for a period no less than two (2) days within 15 days before election day.

The lawmaker said seniors and PWDs who register for early voting will have the option to cast their ballot via post in designated precincts. The bill, he said, also seeks to amend Republic Act 10366 or the law that authorizes the Comelec to establish precincts assigned to accessible polling places exclusively for PWDs and senior citizens.

Under his proposal, Angara seeks to authorizes the Comelec to designate precincts as accessible polling places for the exclusive use of PWDs and seniors such as in public schools, town halls or plazas, civic centers, community centers or other similarly designated special venues or areas, preferably those designed with special features to ensure their safety and comfort.

“Nakakalungkot ang mga balita na marami pa din ng mga seniors natin ang pumila ng matagal na panahon sa mga presinto at kinailangan pa umakyat ng ilang palapag para lamang bumoto (It’s sad to hear reports that still, many of our senior citizens and PWDs have to bear the long queue inside voting precincts and have to climb the stairs just so they can vote),” the senator said.

“Kung maisasabatas ang panukala natin ay magiging mas madali at mas komportable para sa mga seniors at pati na din ng mga PWDs ang bumoto sa panahon ng halalan (If this is passed into law, it would be much easy and comfortable for our seniors and PWDs to vote in the upcoming elections),” Angara said.