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Seventeenth Congress

First Regular Session

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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
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
persons with disability (PWDs) the same privilege.

‘The 2016 Voters Profile! show that there are 318,013 registered persons with
disability in the country. Although Republic Act No. 10366 has been enacted to
establish precincts assigned to accessible polling places exclusive for PWDs and
senior citizens, the idea of going to crowded local polling places on Election Day poses
enough discomfort and difficulty that many of our PWDs are unable to exercise their
right to vote on Election Day. This measure hopes to make sure that the PWD voting
populace are given the chance for their votes to be counted.

Just like the other absentee voting laws, PWDs 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, PWDs 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 difficulty
of having to jostle their way through crowded polling places.

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

HORACIO SUANSING, JR.
2r4 Distefet, Sultan Kudarat

LITA B. SUAN'!
1* District, Nueva Ecijal

* 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

2487

House Bill No.

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

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR LOCAL ABSENTEE VOTING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY

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 Persons With Disability (PWDs). - The
Commission on Elections shall extend the right to vote under the local absentee
voting system provided under existing laws and executive orders to persons with
disability (PWDs) who are duly registered voters and who, on election day, may not
be able to go to their polling places due to their condition: 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 PWDs 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