Early voting by mediamen up to Comelec

Romulo Macalintal

The petition to allow early voting for media professionals assigned to work in places where they are not registered as voters on election day has been submitted for resolution to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc.

A group of media practitioners, through lawyer Romulo Macalintal, petitioned the election  body last June 4 to issue “a resolution to implement their right to vote as guaranteed by the Constitution to all qualified Filipino citizens.”

Prominent media personalities submitted affidavits in support of the petition and to prove that the number of media people who are unable to vote because of the nature of their work during the election period are so numerous and substantial and that their right of suffrage cannot be ignored by the Comelec.

Macalintal argued that if detainees or prisoners are given a special privilege to vote and to be escorted to where they are registered as voters, the “media men who are assigned on election day in places where they are not registered as voters should likewise be extended the same privilege and liberality.”

He said granting the media’s petition will not constitute an amendment of Republic Act No. 7166 allowing “absentee voting” for government employees, like teachers and military personnel who are allowed to vote in their assigned work places where they are not registered. Jerome Aning