Comelec defers special registration for PWDs

MANILA, Philippines - The heavy monsoon floods derailed even the special registration for persons with disabilities (PWDs), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported yesterday.

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the special registration for PWDs in Bulacan, Pampanga, Cainta, Marikina and Pasig failed to push through since most of those areas remained flooded.

Sarmiento said they still do not know exactly when to hold the special registration for PWDs, but they intend to do it before the end of August.

However, PWDs may still file their application for registration until Oct. 31, 2012, Sarmiento said.

“The National PWD Voter Registration Day is just a special day for our PWDs,” he said.

“On that day, we honor our PWD voters as we highlight our shared efforts to ensure that no PWD gets left behind when it comes to their right to suffrage,” Sarmiento explained.

Sarmiento urged all qualified PWDs nationwide to visit the nearest Comelec Office or designated registration sites in their area to register or update their records so they may vote via accessible polling places in the May 13, 2013 national and local elections.

The National PWD Voter Registration Day was originally slated last month, in conjunction with the celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week, but Comelec had to reschedule to give way for the conduct of the general registration of voters in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Voters’ registration in all non-ARMM areas was temporarily suspended last month to focus on the ARMM poll list-up.