Convenient voting

In an ideal world, elderly Filipinos and those with disabilities would vote in the comfort of air-conditioned, ground floor precincts with attentive poll watchers guiding them in casting a ballot as a singular act of democracy.

Part of it was achieved on Monday with the accessible polling precincts (APP) project of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) which had Cebu City as one of the four pilot sites.

It was a small-scale experiment, but one necessary to give life to Republic Act No. 10366 that mandates the Comelec to set up APPs exclusively for persons with disabilities (PWD) and senior citizens who ask for it.

Out of 75 in barangay Mabolo who consented to participate, only two failed to show up.

Interest was high though.

There were scores of seniors who trooped to SM City Cebu in the hopes of voting there only to be turned away when their names didn’t appear in the shortlist because the site was exclusive for Mabolo voters.

The VIP treatment inside was appreciated. Comelec staff had one-on-one time for those who needed help in filling up forms in the manual balloting.

“Daghan gwapa dinhi (There are lots of pretty women here),” one elderly gentleman said chuckling, after he finished voting in a matter of minutes at the mall’s Food Court. Voting was 7 a.m. to 12 noon.

Compare the scene with regular voting centers in the city where seniors in wheelchairs had to be carried upstairs to upper floors of public schools to vote. Some lolas were carried piggy-back style to the school. That’s how determined they were to cast their ballots.

It was timely that Comelec Commissioner Grace Padaca, whose polio condition as a child requires her to use crutches, was in Cebu City to witness the pilot project in the mall.

She was only too happy to note the project’s success which would benefit people, disadvantaged by age and physical limitations, who struggle with crowds and buildings that don’t have ramps.

Those who criticized the APP project as mere “window-dressing” by the Comelec didn’t see the big picture.

This is the first time the APP is being tried, after implementing rules of RA No. 10366 were promulgated in Oct. 18, 2013. Five pilot sites were selected, using SM malls in Manila, Lipa city in Batangas, Cebu City and General Santos City.

The dry run gives Comelec valuable insights on how to roll out senior-friendly and PWD-acccessible polling areas all over the country in time for the 2016 elections.

The cool, spacious venue at the mall’s Food Court was a kinder environment for men and women, who walk aided by yayas, canes and wheelchairs. Hopefully, other commercial establisments would offer their premises as well in 2016.

As one senior observed, after voting, they could linger to eat, see a movie, shop or go “malling” with the family.