SANTA ROSA CITY, Laguna (PIA) – The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced that it will open a more inclusive, safe and convenient voting option for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and pregnant women to ensure their participation in the 2025 national and local elections.
In an interview during the Ugnayan at Talakayan sa Laguna program of the Philippine Information Agency, lawyer Marx Nicholai Delmo, election officer of COMELEC in Calamba City, Laguna, stated that the implementation of early voting hours is part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to have an orderly election process.
Senior citizens, PWDs, and pregnant women may cast their ballots on May 12 at their designated precincts as early as 5:00 am to 7:00 am.
“For the first time, in the 2025 National Elections, the Commission on Elections will implement what we call early voting hours. This will be from 5:00 AM to 7:00 AM, where all our polling places will exclusively accommodate persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and pregnant women along with their assistors. Only they will be served from 5:00 AM to 7:00 AM,” Delmo said.
Those with special needs, senior citizens, and pregnant women who belong to the priority group but are unable to vote during the said voting hours will still be accommodated through the priority lanes set up for them in every polling precinct from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.
These lanes will remain open throughout the day to allow them skip regular queues and vote with great comfort and convenience, the Commission reiterates.
The election officer then emphasized that this system upholds the right to suffrage of every Filipinos and to maintain an organized electoral process while safeguarding the welfare of the vulnerable sectors.
Meanwhile, COMELEC has warned the public to remain cautious and vigilant against false information circulating online claiming that the upcoming election has been postponed and moved to another date, clarifying that such claims are fake and not true.
Individuals spreading such false information may be held liable for an election offense under Section 261(z)(11) of the Omnibus Election Code. (RB, CO/PIA-4A)
