A measure that allows early voting by qualified senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), lawyers, and human resources for health in national and local elections, has been approved in the House of Representatives.

House Bill 7576 got 259 affirmative votes for its third and final reading approval.

If enacted into law, the bill would benefit disadvantaged sectors as well as those that render indispensable services to Filipinos.

“By default, senior citizens and PWDs encounter more difficulty in the electoral process. They deserve more assistance in the language of the law and HB No.7576 provides them with this in the form of voting early and separate from the vast majority of Filipinos,” Romualdez said as he hailed the passage of the measure.

“On the other hand, our lawyers and human resources for health perform duties of great urgency and impact on other citizens. As such, the benefit of early voting for them is both deserved and called for,” he added.

Under HB No. 7576, it is declared the policy of the State to make voting convenient for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), lawyers, and human resources for health by giving them the option to vote earlier than the date set for the elections.

“Similarly, in consideration of the necessity of providing professional services and ensuring the health and safety of the populace during election day, lawyers and human resources for health, respectively, shall be allowed to vote early in national and local elections,” it added.

The measure received multi-partisan support with a total of 125 members of the House listed as co-authors of the bill.

The bill’s authors deemed it necessary to give a clear definition of “human resources for health” for purposes of availing the early voting benefit.

There shall be a nationwide registration for senior citizens, PWDs, lawyers, and human resources for health to qualify them to avail of this early voting privilege. Those who are not registered under this Act shall vote with the rest of the eligible population on Election Day.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is also given a clear set of responsibilities in order to ensure the effective implementation of the Act.

These include having Comelec keep a record of senior citizens, PWDs, lawyers, and human resources for health who are registered voters; designating a system of registration for them in coordination with local government units, the National Council on Disability Affairs, the Commission on Human Rights, the Office of the Bar Confidant of the Supreme Court, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the Department of Health, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government; and ensuring that polling places are safe and accessible to senior citizens and PWDs.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jester P. Manalastas