Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.   ________ 
Introduced by  
REPRESENTATIVE PANTALEON D. ALVAREZ 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR EARLY VOTING FOR QUALIFIED SENIOR 
CITIZENS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN NATIONAL AND 
LOCAL ELECTIONS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE: 
This bill seeks to broaden the access to the right of suffrage of qualified 
senior citizens and persons with disabilities in order to eliminate possible 
impediments to electoral participation and ultimately improve the quality of 
their voting experience.  
This measure will allow qualified senior citizens and persons with 
disabilities, together with qualified media practitioners, teachers, military 
personnel, and government employees involved in the conduct of elections, 
to vote one (1) week before the date of the elections in COMELEC designated 
and accessible voting centers nationwide. 
An earlier version of this proposed bill, House Bill No. 5661 was 
approved on third reading by the House of Representatives during the 17th 
Congress and transmitted to the Senate of the Philippines on May 31, 2017. 
This bill was likewise filed as House Bill No. 4565 in the 18th Congress with 
House Bill No. 9562 as the Mother Bill, was approved on third reading, and 
transmitted to the Senate on August 26, 2021. However, said Bill did not 
succeed at the Senate. 
It is again refiled in the 19th Congress. Approval of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
    PANTALEON D. ALVAREZ 
September 14, 2022
5:41 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.   ________ 
Introduced by  
REPRESENTATIVE PANTALEON D. ALVAREZ 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR EARLY VOTING FOR QUALIFIED SENIOR 
CITIZENS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN NATIONAL 
AND LOCAL ELECTIONS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:  
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy 
of the State to make voting convenient for senior citizens and persons 
with disabilities (PWDs) by giving them the option to vote earlier than 
the date set for the elections. 
SEC. 2. Early Voting. – For national and local elections, there shall be 
early voting where senior citizens and PWDs qualified to vote early may 
choose to cast their ballot at accessible establishments designated by the 
Commission on Elections (COMELEC) within seven (7) working days 
before the date set for the elections. 
SEC. 3. Registration. – There shall be a nationwide registration for 
senior citizens and PWDs who may wish to avail of their early voting 
privileges to qualify them for early voting. Those who are not registered 
under this Act shall vote on Election Day. 
SEC. 4. Obligation of the COMELEC. – To ensure the smooth 
implementation of this Act, the COMELEC shall: 
(a) Keep a record of senior citizens and PWDs who are registered
voters;
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(b) In coordination with local government units, the National 
Council on Disability Affairs, the Commission on Human Rights, 
the Department of Health, and the Department of the Interior 
and Local Government, design a registration system that shall 
allow senior citizens and PWDs to register and opt for early 
voting in order to improve their voting experience in national 
and local elections; 
 
(c)  Ensure the full implementation of Republic Act No. 10366, 
entitled “An Act Authorizing the Commission on Elections to 
Establish Precincts Assigned to Accessible Polling Places 
Exclusively for Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizens”, 
such that polling places are safe, highly accessible, and fitted 
with the necessary communication, visual, and physical aids; 
and 
 
(d) Mount an intensive information campaign on early voting by 
qualified senior citizens and PWDs. 
 
 
SEC. 5. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to fund early voting 
by qualified senior citizens and PWDs in national and local elections shall 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
 
SEC. 6. Applicability of Other Laws. – The provisions of Batas 
Pambansa Blg. 881 or the Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act No. 7166, 
entitled “An Act Providing for Synchronized National and Local 
Elections and for Electoral Reforms, Authorizing Appropriations 
Therefor, and for Other Purposes,” and other election laws not 
inconsistent herewith shall be applied to facilitate the early voting by 
qualified senior citizens and PWDs. 
 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days 
from the approval of this Act, the COMELEC shall, in consultation with 
other relevant government and non-government agencies, promulgate 
the rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act. 
 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof is 
declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not 
affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, rules, and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the 


provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified 
accordingly. 
 
 
SEC. 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation. 
 
 
Approved,