PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (PIA)- The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will provide dedicated assistance to persons with special needs to ensure a safe, accessible, and inclusive voting experience on Election Day.
Persons with special needs include individuals with disabilities, senior citizens, and pregnant women. To ensure their safety and convenience, persons with special needs are scheduled to vote between 5:00 AM and 7:00 AM on election day.
During the Kapihan sa Rehiyon Nueve, Attorney Glory Grace O. Nodado, administrative-legal officer of COMELEC shared the measures to be implemented in Zamboanga Peninsula to support these voters.
“Our first measure is, of course, providing them with an assistor”, she said.
She emphasized that each person with special needs may choose their own assistor, who must be registered before the election.
Along with this provision, the Automated Counting Machine (ACM) is equipped with headphones, allowing voters to hear the names of the candidates they selected. This feature enables them to verify that the screen ballot image matches the ballot they have shaded.
Moreover, each polling precinct will have accessible tools and devices on hand to accommodate voters with special needs.
Teotima C. Pelonio, a senior citizen from San Pablo, Zamboanga del Sur, expressed her appreciation for the support being provided by the Commission.
“Mas maayo gyud nga naa’y mo-assist sa mga senior citizens aron nga mahimong komportable ang among pagbotar”, she said.
(It’s really better to have someone assist senior citizens so that our voting experience can be more comfortable.)
The COMELEC remains committed to ensuring that persons with special needs receive priority assistance throughout the voting period. (JPA/CCP/HAC/PIA9-Zamboanga del Sur)
