Comelec reports success in early voting for vulnerable sectors

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) successfully implemented early voting hours from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and pregnant women during the 2025 midterm elections.

In Eastern Visayas, at least 177,926 individuals from these groups, including their assistors, availed of this early voting period.

Commission on Elections assistant regional director Maria Corazon Montallana expressed satisfaction with the turnout, noting that all precincts accommodated early voters promptly.

Of those who voted early in Eastern Visayas, the majority were senior citizens (127,935), followed by assistors (31,650), PWDs (13,638), and pregnant women (4,703).

The special early voting hours were introduced in place of an unsuccessful attempt to pass an 'Early Voting Law,' with Comelec Chairperson George Garcia stating the initiative was successful in a larger context.

Voters from these groups who missed the early hours will still be given priority via a courtesy lane during regular voting.

This initiative aims to allow these voters to bypass long queues and mitigate exposure to heat, with approximately 12 million senior citizens and 530,000 PWDs registered nationwide.

Comelec has outlined an eight-step process for voters once they arrive at their polling precinct.