Luigi pushes for early voting of senior citizens

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu sixth district Rep. Gabriel Luis “Luigi” Quisumbing is batting for early voting of senior citizens in the national and local elections to make the election process much easier for them.

Quisumbing filed House Bill 5963 otherwise known as the “Early Voting for Senior Citizens Act of 2012,” which allows qualified senior citizens to vote early and cast their ballot in the Office of the Municipal or City Election Registrar where they are registered during office hours within one working day before the election day.

Under the bill, senior citizens will be allowed to vote for as many positions available, like any other qualified voter.

Quisumbing said that it is provided in the Constitution that suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law, who are at least 18 years of age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one year, and in the place wherein they propose to vote, for at least six months immediately preceding the election.

“No literacy, property, or other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage. Suffrage is the lifeblood of a democracy,” Quisumbing said.

Quisumbing observed that in 2010 national elections, news programs showed footage of senior citizens leaving polling centers because their physical conditions could not endure the long lines and lengthy procedure they had to undergo in order to cast their votes.

“Senior citizens were deprived of the opportunity to exercise the very basic right of suffrage,” Quisumbing said.

As proposed, 30 days before the election, the Commission on Elections shall keep a record of senior citizens who are registered as voters.

The Comelec shall coordinate with the local government units, the Departments of Health and the Department of Interior and Local Government in designing systems and assistance to be accorded to senior citizens.

It is also proposed that Comelec shall designate accessible polling places where senior citizens may be able to cast their vote, ensuring that such polling places are provided with the necessary mobility, communication, visual and other forms of assistance for concerned voters.

The bill mandates the Comelec to include an allocation in its budget programs for the implementation of the Act.—(FREEMAN)