Early voting to be pilot-tested in Naga, Muntinlupa

MANILA, Philippines — Senior citizens in Muntinlupa and Naga cities may cast their votes ahead of other voters during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in October, according to the Commission on Elections.

“Naisipan ng Comelec magkaroon ng early voting hours for seniors. Pilot-test natin yan sa Naga City at Muntinlupa... Walang pre-registration, basta nakatatanda, makakaboto ka nang 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.,” Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum yesterday.

Garcia said senior citizens can vote early at their respective precincts.

He said the board of election inspectors in Muntinlupa and Naga would get an additional honoraria of P2,000.

“We need to provide additional honoraria because they will be required to report earlier in polling precincts,” Garcia noted.

If proven successful, he said early voting would be implemented nationwide in the midterm elections in 2025.

Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said the poll body decided to pilot-test the early voting system to avoid complaints during its full implementation.

“After the pilot-test, we shall have empirical data that it is successful. We can then easily convince teachers to open polling precincts as early as 5 a.m.,” Laudiangco said.

The Comelec had earlier said it is proceeding with the pilot testing of early voting to provide comfort and convenience for members of the vulnerable sectors in case Congress will not pass the early voting bill in time for the BSKE polls on Oct. 30.

The bill has been passed on third and final reading at the House of Representatives.