DSWD cites snags, gains in voting process for seniors, PWDs
(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / LYN RILLON)
MANILA, Philippines – Despite innovations and improvements such as early voting hours and the presence of priority lanes, senior citizens still faced challenges during the 2025 midterm elections, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Thursday.
In a post-election evaluation held Tuesday by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) – Vulnerable Sectors’ Office, DSWD said it observed several accessibility gaps.
“These include lack of medical aids in some precincts; the difficulty of finding names in voter’s list; the need for separate vote counting machines for vulnerable sectors; and the necessity for more water stations, accessible restrooms, and availability of facilities and equipment to help those with mobility issues,” the DSWD said in a statement.
READ: Priority voters wait for hours in some Manila poll places
Republic Act 10366 mandates the Comelec to establish designated accessible polling places for persons with disabilities and senior citizens to ensure their participation in the elections without restrictions.
“Voting is a fundamental right — but for our senior citizens, that right is only truly meaningful if they can exercise it safely, comfortably, and without struggle,” DSWD Assistant Secretary Ellaine Fallacurna said in the forum discussion, as quoted in the same statement.
Despite this, DSWD welcomed the improvements in the conduct of the elections.
“Some described the process as organized and smooth, with staff politely guiding them. It’s important that we recognize these good practices — and the people behind them — because they show that inclusive voting is possible,” Fallarcuna pointed out.
READ: CHR calls on Comelec to ensure accessibility in polling places
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) earlier said it appreciates the innovations of early voting for vulnerable sectors.
But it also said the initiative was “significantly undermined by poor accessibility in many polling centers.”
“Several voting sites lacked ramps, shaded waiting areas, functioning accessible restrooms, or wheelchairs. In numerous cases, voters had to climb steep stairs or endure the long wait under extreme heat,” CHR said in a May 13 statement.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said around 4.8 million voters from vulnerable sectors were able to cast their votes during the early voting hours from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. on May 12.
The Comelec recorded an 82.20% voter turnout in the 2025 midterm elections — the highest in the country’s history — with 57.35 million out of 69.67 million registered voters casting their ballots. (Lau Bacia, INQUIRER.net trainee)
