ILOILO City – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set early voting hours for vulnerable sectors, including persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, their assistors (if any), and pregnant women, ahead of the usual voting hours for the May 12, 2025, national and local elections.
Comelec Region 6 director Atty. Dennis Ausan announced that following the success of early voting during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), the same initiative will be implemented next year.
Vulnerable voters will have exclusive voting hours from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.
“Senior citizens and PWDs can cast their ballots while the weather is still cool, and the crowd is manageable. For our senior citizens who wake up early, you may go to your voting center as early as 5 a.m. to vote,” Ausan said.
This is among the new policies that Comelec is introducing for the 2025 elections. Regular voting hours for all registered voters will follow from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., while priority polling places will be open from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mall Voting Initiative
Another innovation for the upcoming elections is mall voting.
In Iloilo City, four malls have been designated as voting centers for nearby barangays:
* Robinsons Place Iloilo—for barangays Magsaysay, Osmeña, and San Jose (City Proper)
* Robinsons Jaro – for Barangay San Vicente (Jaro district)
* SM City Iloilo – for Barangay Taft North (Mandurriao)
* Festive Walk Mall – for Barangay Airport (Mandurriao)
Ausan clarified that only registered voters from barangays approved by the Comelec main office are eligible to vote in these malls. This initiative aims to decongest schools traditionally used as voting centers.
Positions at Stake
Voters will elect the following positions:
* National – 12 senators and one party-list group
* Local – one member of the House of Representatives, Provincial Governor, Provincial Vice Governor, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan.
Key Dates to Remember
* Election Period – January 12, 2025, to June 11, 2025
* Campaign Period for National Positions – February 11, 2025, to May 10, 2025
* Campaign Period for Local Positions – March 28, 2025, to May 10, 2025
* Voting by Overseas Voters – April 13, 2025, to April 30, 2025
* Final Testing and Sealing of Automated Counting Machines – May 2, 2025, to May 7, 2025
* Election Day – May 12, 2025
* Last Day to File Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) – June 11, 2025/PN
