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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

5964

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Hon. GABRIEL LUIS R. QUISUMBING ~

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Suffrage is the lifeblood of a democracy. The Constitution, Article 5, Section 1

provides:
Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise
disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall
have resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place where
they propose to vote for at six months immediately preceding the election.
No literacy, property, or other substantive requirement shall be imposed
on the exercise of suffrage.

During the national elections last 2010, news programs showed footage of
people with disabilities leaving polling centers because their physical conditions
cannot endure the long lines and lengthy procedure they have to undergo in
order to cast their votes. Hence, these people with disabilities were deprived of
the opportunity to exercise the very basic right of suffrage.

Accordingly, in this legislation, the author seeks to provide for early voting of
people with disabilities in the Philippines for the National and Local Elections.

Hence the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

GABRIEL WUIS R. QUISUMBING


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
564
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Hon. GABRIEL LUIS R. QUISUMBING

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR EARLY VOTING OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
(PWDs) AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Title. This act shall be known as the “Early Voting for Persons With
Disabilities (PWDs) Act of 2012”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. The State shall ensure the exercise of the
right of suffrage by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified by
law.

SECTION 3. Requirements. Thirty (30) days before the election, the
Commission on Elections (COMELEC) shall implement the following:

* COMELEC shall keep a record of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) who
are registered as voters.

* COMELEC shall coordinate with the Local Government Units (LGU),
National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), the Commission on Human
Rights (CHR the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Local
and Interior Government (DILG) in designing systems and assistance to
be accorded to Senior Citizens.

* COMELEC shall designate accessible polling places where Persons With
Disabilities (PWDs) may be able to cast their vote, ensuring that such
polling places are provided with the necessary mobility, communication,
visual and other forms of assistance for concerned voters.

SECTION 4. Voting Procedures. Those herein qualified to vote early may cast
his/her ballot in the Office of the Municipal/ City Election Registrar where he/
she is registered during office hours within one (1) working day before the day
of the election. He/ she will be allowed to vote for as many positions available, as
any other qualified voter.

SECTION 5. Appropriations. ~ COMELEC shalll include allocation in its budget
programs for the implementation of this Act. The initial funding of this Act shall
be charged against the current year’s appropriations or from any available
savings of the COMELEC. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the


continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The COMELEC shall
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations and other issuances or parts thereof that are inconsistent with this
Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,