FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Honorable Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Honorable Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

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House Bill No,__2722

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Many states in America now allow early voting, in which ballots are cast
prior to Election Day. The primary argument in favor of early voting is that it
increases tumout by making it easier to vote. A research shows that in the 24
states in America with no excuse absentee voting, turnout increased in 2004 in
the aggregate by 6.7 percent, whereas it increased 6.2 percent for the other
States. In the 11 states that had early voting in both 2002 and 2004, turnout
increased by an aggregate average of 7.2 percentage points as opposed to 6.2
in states without early voting.

In addition to the statistical evidence, early voting is advocated by voting
rights groups whose primary concern is making voting as convenient as
possible for voters, because it gives them significantly more time to complete
their ballots or go to the polls.

Some election administrators also prefer early voting because it allows them
more time to process ballots, relieves some of the strain on voting systems that
‘occurs on Election Day, cuts down long lines, and reduces the number of poll
workers needed,

This bill seeks to provide for early voting in the Philippines for the 2010

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

RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ

sn, Lan JR.



FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Honorable Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Honorable Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 2722

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR EARLY VOTING FOR THE 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. \t is hereby declared policy of the
State to make voting convenient to people by giving them option to vote earlier
than election day proper.

Section 2. Early Voting. For National and Local Elections, there shall
be early voting where a voter may choose to appear at the polling place before
Election Day and vote in a booth exactly as he or she would on the day of the
election.

Section 3. Applicability of Other Laws. The provisions of the Omnibus
Election Code, Republic Act No. 7166 and other election laws not inconsistent
herewith shall be applied to early voting

Section 4. Rules and Regulations. The Commission on Elections shall
issue rules and regulations to implement this Act. Said rules shall be published
in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Section 5. Appropriation. - The amounts necessary to fund subsequent
early voting for the national elections shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act for the corresponding fiscal year.

Section 6. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act or
any part thereof be declared invalid, the other provisions, so far as they are
separable from the invalid ones, shall remain in full force and effect.


Section 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, issuances, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

Section 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved