SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is urging members of vulnerable sectors – senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs) – to take advantage of the exclusive 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. voting hours during the 2025 midterm elections.
Lawyer Reddy Balarbar, assistant regional director of COMELEC Ilocos, said that these early hours are reserved for senior citizens, PWDs, non-literate voters, persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), and members of indigenous peoples (IP) groups.
“The members of vulnerable sectors can vote ahead of the regular voting population, along with the persons who will be assisting them,” Balarbar said during an episode of the Philippine Information Agency’s (PIA) Kapihan sa Ilocos.
Ilocos Region has 4,846,558 registered voters, with 709,109 belonging to vulnerable groups.
Balarbar emphasized that while participation in the exclusive voting hours is optional, it provides significant benefits.
“They may still cast their ballots during regular hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., however, we can only offer the express lane since it is already beyond the exclusive voting hours allotted for them,” he said.
Balarbar highlighted the advantages of voting early, especially avoiding long lines and the dry season heat expected on Election Day.
Prior to the full implementation of the exclusive voting hours for vulnerable sectors in this year’s polls, COMELEC successfully pilot-tested the strategy during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in 2023.
COMELEC first tested the exclusive voting hours during the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, which Balarbar said was successful. The strategy is being implemented nationwide for the first time in a midterm election.
To ensure a smooth voting process, the poll body is encouraging all voters to come prepared with a list of their preferred candidates.
“It is better if they already have the list of their bets so they won’t have to consume too much time inside the polling centers choosing a candidate, preventing the long queues,” Balarbar said.
Also, the commission reminded the public to exercise their right to vote wisely, as the next leaders will shape the future of the country.
This move by COMELEC underscores its commitment to making the electoral process more inclusive and accessible for all sectors of society. (CCMT/CGRCC, PIA Region 1)
