HOUSE OF REPRESENTAT VER

RECEIVED
Dare: 93 AUG 2016
Republic of the Philippines TUME:_¢:39 Py
House of Representatives BY: Dey
Quezon City het ~~
REE
Seventeenth Congress Bais pried UNIT
First Regular Session ‘X SERVICE
2486

House Bill No.

Estrellita B. Suansing and Horacio P. Suansing, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Voting is a fundamental right of the people, one which defines the Philippines
as a democratic country. In fact, absentee voting laws have been enacted to ensure
that each Filipino will be able to exercise this right.

While absentee voting laws allow Filipinos residing or working overseas,
government officials and employees, media practitioners, members of the armed
forces and police force to vote for national elective positions, there is no law granting
senior citizens the same privilege.

The 2016 Voters Profile! show that there are 6,695,251 registered senior
citizens in the country. Due to age-related conditions, many of our elderly are unable
to exercise their right to vote on Election Day. This measure hopes to make sure that
the senior voting populace are given the chance for their votes to be counted.

Just like the other absentee voting laws, senior citizens who are qualified to
avail of the local absentee voting shall be able to vote for national elective positions:
President, Vice President, Senators and Party-List Representatives.

Moreover, senior citizens who are qualified to avail of local absentee voting will
not have to go to their local polling place on Election Day, relieving them of the
discomfort of having to jostle their way through crowded polling places.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

HORACIO Pinna, JR.

1* District, Nueva Eci 2r¢ District, Sultan Kudarat

* Philippine 2016 Voters Profile by Age Group, Commission on Elections as of 16 November 2015,
(http://www.comelec.gov.ph/?r=2016NLE/Statistics/Philippine2016VotersProfile/ByAgeGroup)



Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 2436

Introduced by Representatives
Estrellita B. Suansing and Horacio P. Suansing, Jr.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR LOCAL ABSENTEE VOTING FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall ensure the free exercise
of the right of suffrage by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified by
law.

SEC, 2. Local Absentee Voting for Senior Citizens. - The Commission on
Elections shall extend the right to vote under the local absentee voting system
provided under existing laws and executive orders to senior citizens who are duly
registered voters and who, on election day, may not be able to go to their polling
places due to age-related conditions: Provided, That they shall be allowed to vote only
for the positions of President, Vice President, Senators and Party-List
Representatives.

SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Commission on
Elections shall, within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the
implementing rules and regulations which shall include a system of accreditation
and verification of senior citizens who are qualified to avail of local absentee voting.

SEC. 4. Appropriations. - The initial funding of this Act shall be charged
against the current year's appropriations or from any available savings of the
Commission on Elections. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be
declared unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not affected
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 6, Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
resolutions, rules and regulations, other issuances, and parts thereof, which are


inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,