In photos: PWDs, elders vote for midterm polls

MANILA, Philippines — Several persons with disabilities, senior citizens and pregnant women exercised their rights to suffrage for the 2019 midterm polls.

They voted through emergency accessible polling places.

Commission on Elections Chair Sheriff Abas said this is part of their voter-inclusive initiatives.

“Your Comelec has also widened the scope of our voter-inclusive initiatives to ensure accessibility and equal opportunity for everyone to vote,” Abas said during his speech at the National Board of Canvassers’ first session Monday.

Abas cited that Comelec Commissioner Al Parreño, who heads the poll body’s committee on Senior Citizens and PWDs, coordinated with the Department of Education to install more accessible polling places.

Comelec Commissioner Socorro Inting, who leads the Gender Development Committee, on the other hand, made sure heavily pregnant women were assisted in accessible polling places.

The elections body leader said there are currently 864 emergency accessible polling places established with 70% existing in Metro Manila.

Here are some PWDs and elders captured casting their votes at the Jose P. Laurel Senior High School polling precinct in Manila:

Person with disability wait for their turn to vote at Jose P. Laurel Senior High School in Manila on May 13, 2019. (AFP/Noel Celis)

A blind man votes with the help of an assistant at Jose P. Laurel Senior High School in Manila on May 13, 2019. (AFP/Noel Celis)

A physically-challenged voter on a wheel chair is helped by volunteers at a polling precinct in Manila on May 13, 2019. (AFP/Ted Aljibe)

Person with disability arrive to cast their ballot at Jose P. Laurel Senior High School in Manila on May 13, 2019. (AFP/Noel Celis)

Christopher Joaquin, 40 year old and partially blind, checks a ballot at Jose P. Laurel Senior High School in Manila on May 13, 2019. (AFP/Noel Celis)

Christopher Joaquin, 40 year old and partially blind,(C) casts his vote at Jose P. Laurel Senior High School in Manila on May 13, 2019. (AFP/Noel Celis)

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— with Agence France-Presse/Noel Celis