Election officers in the five cities and 20 towns of Negros Oriental are finalizing the list of special polling places for persons-with-disabilities in the May 13, 2013 elections.

Provincial election supervisor Eddie Aba yesterday said the Commission on Elections central office set October 5 as the deadline for the submission of the proposed special polling places for PWDs.

Such should be accessible, located on the ground floor with a flat and even surface or a ramp, with ample lighting and other amenities that are PWD-friendly, he said. Ideally, at least one special polling place must be allocated near each school being used as a voting center, he added.

If no classroom or area is suitable, the COMELEC will request school officials to erect a makeshift polling place for the PWDs according to specifications set by COMELEC, he said.

There were more than 24,000 of the 60,000 known PWDs who have registered for next year’s election in the province, Aba said.*JFP

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