The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is hoping for a longer period for voting in the next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), according to a GMA Network news report. The BSKE this year happened this past Monday with a voting period of 7AM to 3PM although a few cities had early voting hours of 5AM to 7AM for senior citizens, pregnant women and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA Network news article. Some parts in boldface…
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia on Monday said that he is hoping that the next Barangay and Sangguninang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) will have longer voting hours.
This, as Garcia said he expects long queues in voting precincts today, which will only be open until 3 p.m.
“Sana nga po dumating ang pagkakataon na mabago ang ating batas na sa halip na alas tres lamang ang pagboto sa BSKE ay sana kahit gawing mga alas singko man lang ito para po makapagsilbi sa mas maraming botante,” Garcia told reporters in an ambush interview after he cast his vote at Banaba Cerca Integrated School in Cavite.
(We look forward to the time when we can amend the law to extend the voting hours for BSKE until 5 p.m. so we can accommodate more voters.)
Aside from longer voting hours, Garcia is also hoping for a new law that will allow the poll body to provide seamless voting for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and heavily pregnant women.
“‘Yun ang kadahilanan kung bakit pinu-push ng Comelec ang Early Voting Law dahil… makaka-register kayo nang mas maaga. Pag naka-register nang mas maaga, alam namin kung saan kayo boboto o kung kayo ba ay boboto nang isang linggo bago ang eleksyon,” explained Garcia.
(That is the reason why Comelec is pushing for an Early Voting Law. This will enable vulnerable sectors to register early and if possible, vote a week earlier.)
The Comelec chief then apologized to the vulnerable sectors who experienced inconvenience due to the required signing of a waiver form.
“Pasensya na po kayo. ‘Yun po ‘yung mga isa sa mga tinitingnan natin sa pilot testing natin, [kung] ano ang mga adjustment na gagawin natin,” he said.
(We ask for your patience. This is one of the things that we want to assess during our pilot test to determine the things that need adjustments.)
“First time po natin itong ginawa…pero wag po kayo mag-alala. Sa susunod na gagawin natin nationwide ‘yan, mawawala ang ganyang klase ng mga papeles o dokumento,” he added.
(This is the first time that we did this. The next time we hold this nationwide, we will no longer require those documents.)
Vulnerable sectors in Muntinlupa City and Naga City, Camarines Sur were allowed to vote early on Monday as they were allowed to cast their votes at 5 a.m.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you were able to vote in the BSKE this past Monday, are you convinced that a longer period of voting is needed? Do you prefer more early voting periods for vulnerable voters or special lanes to be made to accommodate them? Do you think an extended voting period will be effective in accommodating more voters in the BSKE?
You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.
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