Comelec designates July 20 as day of voter registration for PWDs

MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is urging persons with disabilities (PWDs) to get out and register for the 2016 national elections this Sunday (July 20), which has been declared by the poll body as the National Registration Day for Voters with Disabilities.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said they would like to see at least 120,000 PWDs during the occasion.

“While registration may not be done exclusively on Sunday for PWDs, we can assure them that they will be given utmost priority in registration. They will be the focus that day,” he said in a recent interview.

Jimenez expressed hope that the PWDs would take advantage of the occasion when accessible registration venues in all Comelec offices would be designated for them.

Based on Comelec Minute Resolution No. 14-0463, July 20 has been declared as the National Registration Day for Voters with Disabilities in all local Comelec offices in the country.

The declaration was prompted by the request of National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) acting executive director Carmen Reyes-Zubiaga in relation to the celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week every July 17 to 23.

With the Comelec resolution, the commission en banc directed all election officers nationwide to designate accessible registration venues within their respective areas of jurisdiction, in coordination with organizations of PWDs.

The poll body also urged barangay officials to extend assistance, particularly transportation support, for their constituents with disabilities.

Registration will be open in all offices of election officers from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Jimenez noted that the 120,000 PWDs have not yet been registered as voters. He said the PWDs who have registered have not yet given their biometrics data.

Comelec earlier announced it would no longer allow voters without any biometrics data to participate in the upcoming 2016 national elections as it would strictly implement Republic Act 10367 or the Mandatory Biometrics Registration Act of 2013.

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