Early voting for seniors, PWDs, Luigi wants twin bills OK’d before next polls

CEBU, Philippines - Less than two years into the 2016 national and local elections, Cebu sixth district Representative Luigi Quisumbing is calling for the passage of his twin bills providing for a system of early voting for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

House Bill Nos. 4545 and 4546 which seek to provide for an early voting for senior citizens and PWDs, respectively, are now pending in the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms.

 Quisumbing recalled the 2013 elections when media reports showed footages of senior citizens as well as PWDs leaving polling centers because their physical conditions cannot endure the long lines and lengthy procedure they had to undergo in order to cast their votes.

“Because of various difficult situations encountered by our senior citizens and those with disabilities, they were deprived of the opportunity to exercise their very basic right of suffrage,” he said.

 Quisumbing pointed out that suffrage is the lifeblood of a democratic society and given life by the Constitution.

Article 5, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution provides that, “Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place where 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.”

HB No. 4545 provides that, 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 Department of Health, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government in designating systems and assistance to be accorded to the seniors.

 The proposed bill also provides 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 measure also provides that those qualified to vote early may cast his/her ballot in the Office of the Municipal/City Election Registrar where he/she is registered during office hours within one working day before the day of the election.

 He/she will be allowed to vote for as many positions available, as any other qualified voter.

The proposed twin-measures also provide that the Comelec shall include allocation in its budget programs for the implementation once these are enacted into law. — /FPL (FREEMAN)