VOTERS in Cebu with special needs will get a head start in the National and Local Elections on Monday, May 12, 2025.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has designated early voting hours from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and pregnant women.
This nationwide initiative aims to provide a safer, smoother and more accessible voting experience.
Carcar City Election Officer Omar Sharif Mamalinta, in a talk with SunStar Cebu reporters and editors on Sunday, May 4, said that the early voting period is part of their efforts to make elections more inclusive and convenient for those who may struggle with long lines or standard voting hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Priority lanes will remain open all day for eligible voters who cannot vote early. Companions registered in the same precinct can cast their votes at the same time as those they assist.
To make polling places easier to navigate, Priority Polling Places will be set up, especially for voters who cannot access upper floors.
Voter assistance desks, manned by volunteers, will be stationed outside precincts to help voters find their assigned polling places.
Counting machines
Comelec will also roll out new automated counting machines (ACMs) from Korean firm Miru Systems. These replace the Smartmatic machines used since 2016.
The ACMs feature a 14-inch touchscreen display, a privacy screen, and a battery life of more than 14 hours. They include auto-aligning document features, faster scanning, and receipt-cutting with secure storage.
Each machine supports peripherals like headsets and marking pens, and it transmits results to seven servers: the canvassing board, central server, two citizen’s arm servers, dominant majority, dominant minority and media server.
Key functions include voter’s receipt printing, on-screen ballot review, result generation and transmission, digital signing and audit reviews.
Each machine operates through set steps, from diagnostics and voting to data backup and closing procedures.
The ACM-compatible ballot includes timing marks, QR codes and multiple security seals on both sides.
Comelec said these measures are part of a broader push to improve voter turnout and ensure that every Filipino can cast their vote with ease and confidence. / CDF