Early voting hours a success — Comelec

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced that the early voting hours for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and pregnant women were successful.

The early voting hours, from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. — two hours earlier than the rest of the voting population — were implemented for the first time in the 2025 midterm elections.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia explained that these hours were introduced in place of the "Early Voting Law."

"Kaya po talaga pinush namin ang pagkakaroon ng early voting law. Pero hindi po matagumpay," Garcia said.

("That's why we really pushed for the passage of the early voting law. But it was unsuccessful.")

"Kaya nag-early voting hours na lang po tayo na hindi kailangan ng law. In a larger context, successful po ang early voting hours," he added.

("That's why we just implemented early voting hours, which didn’t require a law. In a larger context, the early voting hours were successful.")

Seniors, PWDs, and pregnant women who were unable to vote during the early hours will still be given priority during regular voting hours through a courtesy lane.

There are approximately 12 million registered senior citizens and around 530,000 PWDs nationwide.

Over 18,000 elective positions are up for grabs in the election for those who successfully filed their candidacies.