Comelec issues guidelines on polling precincts for elderly, PWDs

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has come out with the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 9763, which authorizes the agency to establish accessible polling precincts exclusively for senior citizens and people with disabilities (PWDs) during elections.

In Resolution 9763, the Comelec said such polling precincts should be on the ground floor, “preferably near the entrance of the building and is free of any physical barriers and provided with necessary services including assistive devices.”

The Comelec has been assigning “express lanes” for senior citizens and PWDs in the polling precincts, but said there should be “separate non-territorial precinct created exclusively” for them.

The resolution states that senior citizens and PWDS will have to update their voter’s records by applying for “registration, reactivation, transfer with reactivation, reinstatement, inclusion of record or correction of entry indicate the type(s) of their disability as well as the form(s) of assistance they need.”

“PWDs and senior citizens who are already registered but have not indicated the type of disability, or who may have developed or manifested such disability after having been registered, shall be allowed, during the period of registration, to update their registration records,” the Comelec said.