Comelec hails law on persons with disabilities voting

So far, the poll body disqualifies 79 party-list groups for the May 2013 polls, with 47 whose registration were cancelled and 32 denied of their registration as a partylist

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) hailed the Senate’s decision to pass the Electoral Processes Accessibility Act of 2012, saying it reinforces the resolution the former earlier passed.

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the decision of lawmakers only shows that the poll body is doing something good through their “innovative” resolutions, such as for promoting persons with disabilities (PWDs) voting.

It was last June 29 when the commission en banc promulgated Resolution 9485, which provides for the establishment of accessible polling places for PWDs.

Last week, the Senate agreed to pass Senate Bill 3287, or the Electoral Processes Accessibility Act of 2012, which will result to the setting up of polling and registration places for persons with disabilities and senior citizens.

But more than the PWD voting, Sarmiento said he sees the passage of the bill as a good indicator for their more controversial issue being advocated: the partylist system.

So far, the Comelec had already disqualified 79 party-list groups for the May 2013 polls with 47 being cancelled of their accreditation and 32 being denied of being registered as a party-list.

Of the 47, Ako Bicol (AKB), Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (Apec), 1st Consumer’s Alliance for Rural Energy Inc. (1-Care), Alliance for Rural Concerns (ARC), Aksyon Magsasaka-Partido Tinig ng Masa (Akma-PTM), Kakusa, Araro, and Aral have all appealed their disqualification to the Supreme Court.