Lawmakers OK early voting for seniors, PWDs
THE House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a measure allowing qualified senior citizens and persons with disabilities to vote ahead of the scheduled election date.
House Bill 956, which got unanimous votes of 196, is allowing seniors and PWDs to vote at accessible establishments designated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) within seven working days before the date of the elections.
Lawmakers want this measure to be implemented starting 2022 elections.
The bill will benefit millions of senior citizens and PWDs, who are willing to exercise their rights to vote in 2022.
Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, one of the authors of the bill, said: “It would also ease congestion in voting precincts on Election Day, especially at this time of pandemic, and will lessen the possibility of virus transmission.”
The veteran solon said the measure will give the Comelec more time to process ballots, noting that early voting is already allowed for certain individuals like teachers who will serve as Board of Election inspectors.
HB 9562 is a consolidation of 10 related measures authored by Rodriguez, Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito-Castelo; Quezon Rep. Helen Tan; Nueval Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing; Sultan Kudarat Rep. Horacio Suansing Jr. DIWA party-list Rep. Michael Edgar Aglipay; Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez; Manila Rep. Edward Maceda; and Ang Probinsiyano Rep.Ronnie Ong.
