As the general election draws near, the General Elections Commission (KPU) is working to ensure polling station workers can ease access for elderly voters during the Feb. 14 voting day.

The election body recorded that 31.6 million of the total 204.8 million registered voters are older than 60. This includes around 28.1 million baby boomers, or those born between early 1946 and late 1964, and some 3.5 million people who belong to the Silent Generation, born before late 1945.

While only comprising 15 percent of voters, the elderly are one of the vulnerable segments of the population that needs to be given special attention during election day, said KPU commissioner Betty Epsilon Idroos on Wednesday.

Preferential treatment for the elderly has been introduced by the KPU, Betty said, including allowing elderly voters to skip the line of voters at any polling stations. These voters would also get immediate assistance from poll workers to get to the voting booths once they arrived at the polling stations.

"The elderly voters are also allowed to request help from a guardian [when casting a ballot] if they are unable to exercise their voting rights independently,” Betty said, citing the example of an elderly person’s hands trembling and thus leading them to be worried about making the wrong choice.

If an elderly person cannot get to their nearest polling station, they can cast their ballots at home by appointment and with the help of visiting poll administrators.

According to Betty, the KPU and its regional offices were committed to ensuring that paid volunteers working as poll administrators (KPPS) at the polling stations were present for the elderly on voting day.

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