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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES || DATE February 20, 2023

Quezon City * TIME 10:06 am

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Introduced by HONORABLE RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA,
HONORABLE LANI MERCADO-REVILLA, and HONORABLE BRYAN B. REVILLA

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. __7207.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to aptly allow early voting for senior citizens and persons with disabilities
(PWDs) for at least a week before the day of national and local elections. It shall alleviate the physical
inconvenience experienced by our senior citizens and PWDs during elections by allowing them to cast

their votes faster and conveniently.

Suffrage is a fundamental right for it affirms the sanctity and integrity of the democratic
process. No less than the 1987 Constitution affirms the right to suffrage for all Filipinos, including
those in the vulnerable sectors such as senior citizens and PWDs. In recognition of the contributions
made by our senior citizens and PWDs in nation-building, their safety, needs, and convenience must
not be undermined to allow them to exercise their inherent right to political participation.

According to the Philippines Statistics Authority, there are 15,078,121 Filipinos aged 60 years
old and above as of May 2020." Respectively, the Vulnerable Sector Office (VSO) of the Commission
on Elections tallied around 512,000 registered persons with disabilities in 2022. However, many of
them experience physical difficulties during elections, such as lining in congested queues for many
hours which expose them to certain health risks like heatstroke and severe fatigue.

While Republic Act No. 10366 mandates the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to
establish Accessible Polling Places (APP) for PWDs and senior citizens, a 2022 data has shown that

" Phitppine Statistics Authority. National QuickStat~ January 2023. Data revived frm hups:/psa gov ph/satisicsquickstanatonal-quickstaval/

2 Philippine Sta. Accessible voting precnes for PWDS a good start, but more inclusive coverage sll needed. Information revived fom

‘naps wane philstar conv headlines 2022/05/0672179194/accesuible-voting-precinci-puds-good-tr-more-incusve-coverage-sill-needed Dated May
6,2022



only 3.86% or 421,221 voters of the registered 10.5 million PWDs and senior citizens signed up to use
the said establishments.* Moreover, around 42 provinces were revealed that no voter showed their

intent to vote in an APP.*

During the 2022 elections, the low take up of the APPs prompted the COMELEC to provide
for Emergency Accessible Polling Places (EAPP) for senior citizens and PWDs who were not able to
sign up for the APP priorly or did not update their registration. As such, many of our senior citizens
and PWDs were left confused and exhausted on not knowing it was mandatory for them to update their

registration, therefore preventing them from enjoying the privilege granted by the abovementioned law.

In View of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is eamestly sought.

RAMON JOLGB. REVILLA III L. IRCADO-REVILLA

BR)  REVILLA,

Philippine Cener for Investigative Journalism. “Early voting for PWDs? May 2022 polls posed muliple barriers to voters with dsbiltes”
Infomation reieved Som hnps: po orp srtcle976|/may-2022-poll-posed-mulpl-barir-t-voters-with-dsabilities, Date Febay 9, 2023
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. _7207

Introduced by HONORABLE RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA,
HONORABLE LANI MERCADO-REVILLA, and HONORABLE BRYAN B. REVILLA

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR EARLY VOTING BY QUALIFIED SENIOR CITIZENS AND PERSONS
WITH DISABILITIES IN NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTION

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 carlier than the date set for the elections.

SEC. 2. Early Voting. - For national and local elections, there shall be early voting where
qualified senior citizens and PWDs 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
to qualify them to avail of this early voting privilege. Those who are not registered under this Act shall
vote on Election Day.

SEC. 4. Obligations of the COMELEC. - To ensure the effective implementation of this Act,
the COMELEC shall:

(a) Keep a record of senior citizens and PWDs who are registered voters;



(b) Design a registration system, 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 Interior and Local Government, that allows senior citizens
and PWDs to register and opt for early voting;

(©) Ensure that polling places are safe and accessible to senior citizens and PWDs, and
properly fitted with the necessary communication, visual and physical aids, as mandated
under 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”; and

(4) Mount an intensive information campaign on early voting for qualified senior citizens
and PWDs.

SEC 5. Appropriations. — The initial amount for the implementation of this Act shall be
charged against the current year’s appropriations of the COMELEC. Thereafter, the funding of which
shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 6. Applicability of Other Laws. — The provisions of Batas Pambansa Bilang 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 early
voting for qualified senior citizens and PWDs.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations, ~ Within ninety (90) days from its effectivity,
the Commission shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 8.Separability Clause.—If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in force
and effect.

SEC 9. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive orders,
issuances, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are contrary to and
inconsistent with any provision 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,