NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. B. NO. 2139
gv’i'l ^enaif
of 11)C
23 HAY-8 P3:19
RECEiVED BY:
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
ENHANCING VOTING ACCESSIBILITY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, 
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, AND PREGNANT WOMEN, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10366, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE 
COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS TO ESTABLISH PRECINCTS 
ASSIGNED TO ACCESSIBLE POLLING PLACES EXCLUSIVELY FOR 
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND SENIOR CITIZENS,” PROVIDING 
FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Constitution guarantees the right of suffrage of all citizens, excluding 
those disqualified by law.1 Likewise, the Constitution and various laws recognize that 
certain groups, such as persons with disability (PWDs) have special circumstances 
that need to be addressed in order to allow them to fully exercise their right.
For the past twenty (20) years, there has been a considerable increase in the 
turnout of voters in Philippine elections, starting from a 75.46% voter turnout in 1992 
to 84.20% in the recent 2022 National and Local Elections.2 The statistics on the 
recent elections was second only to the 1998 turnout, which was recorded at 86.39%.3
Nonetheless, the turnout for the 2022 National and Local Elections of 84.20% 
still translates to around 10.4 million registered voters who were unable to vote on 
election day.4
1 Article V, Sections 1-2 of the 1987 Constitution.
2 COMELEC Comparative Statistics on Total Number of Registered Voters, total No. of Voters who Actually Voted, 
and Voters’ Turn-out (%) from 1992 to 2022 National and Local Elections. Available at https://comelec.gov.ph/php- 
tpls-attachments/2022NLE/Statistics/Comperative Stats 1992 2002 NLE.pdf (date last accessed: February 18, 
2023).
3 Id.
4 Id.


Progress has been made in increasing participation in the elections, but more 
efforts can be exerted by the State to further expand and enhance the accessibility of 
voting precincts to more voters, particularly, senior citizens, PWDs and pregnant 
women.
Thus, in line with the mandate under the 1987 Constitution, the present 
measure aims to enhance existing mechanisms that promote accessible voting for 
PWDs and senior citizens. Furthermore, the measure extends such mechanisms for 
the benefit of pregnant voters.
The bill provides general principles for the implementation of the measure, 
including: (i) Granting reasonable accommodation to covered voters in order that they 
may fully exercise their right of suffrage; (ii) Respecting the right to ballot secrecy of 
voters; (iii) Enforcing the right of voters to be assisted by a person of their own choice; 
and (iv) Highlighting the role of the private sector in expanding the accessibility of 
electoral processes.
The bill will allow early voting for senior citizens, PWDs and pregnant voters for 
a period of not less than two (2) days within thirty (30) calendar days before election 
day at accessible establishments designated by the Commission. Additionally, on 
election day. Emergency Accessible Polling Places (EAPPs) and Satellite EAPPs can 
be created to allow more persons to exercise their right of suffrage.
In either designs, emphasis is placed on ensuring that accessibility features 
and other forms of assistance will be made available to senior citizens, PWDs, and 
pregnant voters.
Lastly, to promote a more proactive stance in enhancing accessibility of voting 
centers, the COMELEC, in partnership with relevant stakeholders, shall undertake 
accessibility audits after the conduct of elections, and provide recommendations to 
improve infrastructure and other accessibility issues in order to address the same in 
future elections.
Thus, in view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.
JOEl^^^ANUEVA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. No. 21.*^9
beanie
oftlje^ocrclui'p
23 may “8 P3 :19
RFCEIVGD L
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
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AN ACT
ENHANCING VOTING ACCESSIBILITY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, 
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, AND PREGNANT WOMEN, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10366, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE 
COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS TO ESTABLISH PRECINCTS 
ASSIGNED TO ACCESSIBLE POLLING PLACES EXCLUSIVELY 
FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND SENIOR CITIZENS,” 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title.
Accessibility Act”.
This Act shall be known as the “Enhanced Voting
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall ensure that senior citizens, 
persons with disabilities (PWDs), and pregnant women are able to exercise their 
right to political participation without restrictions. The State shall devise systems and 
procedures that will enhance accessibility in their voting process.
SEC. 3. General Principles. - The following shall serve as guidance in the 
implementation of this Act:
(a) The Commission shall ensure that the voting procedures, including the 
facilities and materials, are appropriate, accessible, and easy to 
understand and use, and that reasonable accommodation shall be granted 
to senior citizens, PWDs, and pregnant women voters in order that they 
may fully exercise their right of suffrage;
(b) The right to ballot secrecy of senior citizens, PWDs and pregnant voters


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shall be respected at all times;
(c) The right of senior citizens and PWDs to be assisted by a person of their 
own choice shall be enforced and protected;
(d) The consent of senior citizens, PWDs, or pregnant voters during the 
registration period prior to election day is not required for the purpose of 
availing the privilege of voting under this Act; and
(e) The role of non-partisan groups and organizations of senior citizens and 
PWDs, other concerned agencies, and civil society organizations in the 
implementation of the Act is indispensable.
SEC 4. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the term:
(a) Commission refers to the Commission on Elections;
(b) Senior Citizens refer to qualified voters who are sixty (60) years or older;
(c) Persons with disabilities or PWDs refer to qualified voters who have 
long term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in 
interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective 
participation in the electoral processes on an equal basis with others;
(d) Pregnant women refer to qualified voters who are at least six (6) months 
pregnant at the time of the period for early voting and during election day; 
and
(e) Reasonable Accommodation refers to necessary and appropriate 
modifications and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue 
burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure that PWDs, senior 
citizens, and pregnant women enjoy the exercise of their human rights and 
fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with others.
SEC. 5. Early Voting. — For national and local elections, there shall be early 
voting where senior citizens, PWDs, and pregnant women qualified to vote early may 
choose to cast their ballot for a period of not less than two (2) days within thirty (30) 
calendar days before election day at accessible establishments designated by the 
Commission.
For this purpose, accessible establishments shall be located at the ground 
floor, preferably near the entrance of a building, shall be readily accessible to public 
transportation, and shall be free of any physical barriers, and provided with 
necessary infrastructure and disability support services, including assistive devices, 
transport wheelchairs, ramps, railings, sidewalk, adequate lighting, ventilation, and 
other features for the senior citizens, PWDs, and pregnant women.
Aside from structural accessibility, the Commission shall provide live 
assistance for PWDs, such as sign language interpreters and other forms of 
assistance.


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There shall be a nationwide registration of senior citizens, PWDs, and 
pregnant women who may wish to avail of their early voting privileges to qualify them 
for early voting. Only those who are not registered under the early voting system 
shall vote on election day.
SEC 6. Emergency Accessible Polling Places (EAPP). - During election 
day, the Commission shall designate a room or a makeshift or temporary polling 
place established at the ground of a voting center or outside of it but in close 
proximity thereto, where senior citizens, PWDs, and pregnant women voters may 
vote on election day.
Satellite EAPPs can also be temporarily established in a building used as a 
home or residence of PWDs and/or senior citizens, including rehabilitation centers 
and sheltered workshops where said PWDs and/or senior citizens are living or 
outside thereof but in close proximity thereto, whether administered by the 
government or a private institution.
The Commission shall ensure that the voting procedure in the EAPP, 
including the facilities, materials, and a voting machine in the event of automated 
elections, are adequate, appropriate, accessible, and easy to understand and use, 
and that reasonable accommodation shall be granted to PWDs, senior citizens, and 
pregnant women in order that they may fully exercise their right of suffrage. The 
Commission shall provide live assistance for PWDs such as sign language 
interpreters, and other forms of assistance.
SEC. 7. Section 2(j) of Republic Act No. 10366 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
“SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - x x x
(a) X X X
XXX
(j) Accessible polling place refers to the venue where the Board of 
Election Inspectors (BEIs) conducts election related proceedings and 
where the voters cast their votes. The accessible polling place shall be 
located at the ground floor, preferably near the entrance of the building,
SHALL BE READILY ACCESSIBLE TO PUBLIC 
TRANSPORTATION, and [is] SHALL BE free of any physical barriers 
and provided with necessary INFRASTRUCTURE AND services, 
including assistive devices, TRANSPORT WHEELCHAIRS, RAMPS, 
RAILINGS, SIDEWALKS, ADEQUATE LIGHTING, VENTILATION, 
AND OTHER FEATURES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND 
SENIOR CITIZENS.”
SEC. 8. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 10366 is hereby amended to read as
follows:


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“SEC. 9. [Creation of] Precincts for Persons with Disabilities and 
Senior Citizens. - The Commission is hereby authorized to [establish] 
DESIGNATE precincts [of-a-nonterritorial nature,] IN ACCESSIBLE 
POLLING PLACES FOR THE exclusive[ly for] USE OF persons with 
disabilities and senior citizens [who—in—their registration records 
manifest their intent to-avail of their right to a separate precinct under
this section. Pursuant-hereto,-the commis&ierv-shall establish at least
one (1) such precinct, assigned-to-accessible polling places, for every
voting center.], SUCH AS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TOWN HALLS OR 
PLAZAS, CIVIC CENTERS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, OR OTHER 
SIMILARLY DESIGNATED SPECIAL VENUES OR AREAS, WITH 
PREFERENCE FOR VENUES DESIGNED WITH SPECIAL 
FEATURES TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY AND COMFORT. Such 
precincts shall be provided with assistive devices PURSUANT TO THE 
PROVISIONS OF SECTION 2(J) OF THIS ACT as well as the 
services of experts in assisting persons with disabilities, SUCH AS 
SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS.”
SEC. 9. Accessibility Audit - The Commission, in partnership with relevant 
government agencies and private stakeholders, shall undertake accessibility audits 
of voting centers after the conduct of each election to determine the issues that need 
to be addressed regarding infrastructure and other accessibility issues, with the aim 
of increasing participation of voters with special circumstances.
The Commission shall report the findings of the audit to the President of the 
Philippines, the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives at least 
one (1) year before the next scheduled elections.
SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Commission shall, in consultation with other 
relevant government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and civil society 
organizations, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper 
implementation of this Act.
SEC. 11. Appropriations. — The amounts necessary for the implementation 
of this Act shall be sourced from the current appropriations of the Commission, and 
thereafter, it shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 12. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act or part 
hereof be declared unconstitutional, the other provisions or parts not affected 
thereby shall remain valid and effective.
SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or 
portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,