Nineteenth congress of the
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
SENi
s.B.NoN^l62
senate
fUcP of U)f
23 JUL26 PI no
RECEIVED BV:
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ENHANCING ACCESSIBILITY IN THE VOTING OF SENIOR CITIZENS, PERSONS 
WITH DISABILITIES, PREGNANT WOMEN, AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10366, PROVIDING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Casting one’s vote is a basic right in any democracy. Thus, the State must 
devise every possible way to make voting accessible to all. Senior citizens, persons 
with disabilities (PWDs), pregnant women, and indigenous peoples are among the 
sectors who, in one way or another, find it particularly more challenging and difficult to 
exercise suffrage on election day. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in its 2021 
Philippine Statistics Population Projection, pegs the number of senior citizens at 
9,863,192; registered PWDs at 1,732,296; and indigenous peoples at 9,229,762. The 
University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI) estimates the number of 
pregnant women at an average of 2 million at any given time. Clearly, these numbers 
are significant especially in elections.
Upholding the fundamental principle of social justice which is espouse by the 
no less than the Constitution, this bill seeks to provide these sectors an option for early 
voting. This will somehow alleviate the difficulties that they usually encounter on the 
actual election day when polling precincts are deluged with thousands of voters. The 
long queues under the scorching heat of the sun, poses a heavier burden on them 
who are already mostly physically challenged. They have vulnerabilities which make
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it imperative that the State protect them and help them so that such they would not be 
the cause of their disenfranchisement.
Along with the option of early voting, this bill also seeks to enhance the existing 
Accessible Polling Places (APPs) and Emergency Accessible Polling Places (EAPPs).
In this light, consideration of this bill is earnestly sought.
RAMONyBONG REVILLA, JR.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. No. 2362
S>rnr!t£-
of tlje ^fv'rrtnrp
23 JUL26 Pino
RECEIVED BY;
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ENHANCING ACCESSIBILITY IN THE VOTING OF SENIOR CITIZENS, 
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, PREGNANT WOMEN, AND INDIGENOUS 
PEOPLES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10366, 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Congress assembied:
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Section 1. Deciaration ofPoiicy. - The State shall ensure that senior citizens, 
persons with disabilities (PWDs), pregnant women, and indigenous peoples (IPs) are 
able to exercise their right to political participation without restrictions. The State shall 
devise systems and procedures that will enhance accessibility in their voting process.
Sec. 2. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the term:
a. 
"Commission" refers to the Commission on Elections;
b. 
"Senior Citizens" refer to qualified voters who are sixty (60) years or 
older;
c. 
"Persons with Disabilities" or "PWDs" refer to qualified voters who have 
long term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in 
Interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full effective participation in 
society on an equal basis with others;


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d. "Pregnant women" refer to qualified voters who are pregnant at the time
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of the period for early voting and during election day regardless of the number
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of trimester;
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e. "Indigenous peoples" refer to qualified voters who belong to a group of
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people or homogenous societies identified by self-ascription and by others, who
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have continuously lived as organized community on communally bounded and
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defined territory, and who have, under claims of ownership since time
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immemorial, occupied, possessed and utilized such territories, sharing common
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bonds of language, customs, traditions and other distinctive cultural traits, or
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who have, through resistance to political, social and cultural inroads of
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colonization, non-indigenous religions and cultures, social and cultural Inroads
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of colonization, non-indigenous religions and cultures, became historically
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differentiated from the majority of Filipinos. IPs shall likewise include peoples
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who are regarded as Indigenous on account of their descent from the
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populations which inhabited the country, at the time of conquest or
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colonization, or at the time of inroads of non-indigenous religions and cultures,
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or the establishment of present state boundaries, who retain some or all of
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their own social, economic, cultural and political institutions, but who may have
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been displaced from their traditional domains or who may have resettled
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outside their ancestral domains;
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Sec. 3. Early Voting. - For national and local elections, there shall be early
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voting where senior citizens, PWDs, pregnant women, and IPs qualified to vote early
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may choose to cast their ballot for a period of not less than two (2) days within thirty
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(30) calendar days before election day at accessible establishments designated by the
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Commission.
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For this purpose, accessible establishments shall be located at the ground floor,
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preferably near the entrance of a building, shall be readily accessible to public
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transportation, and shall be free of any physical barriers and provided with necessary
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infrastructure and disability support services, including assistive devices, transport


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wheelchairs, ramps, railings, sidewalk, adequate lighting, ventilation, and other 
features for the senior citizens, PWDs, and pregnant women.
Aside from structural accessibility, the Commission shall provide live assistance 
for PWDs such as sign language interpreters.
There shall be nationwide registration of senior citizens, PWDs, pregnant 
women, and IPs who may wish to avail of their early voting privileges to qualify them 
for early voting. Only those who are not registered under the early voting system shall 
vote on election day.
Sec. 4. Option for Postal Early Voting. - Senior citizens, PWDs, pregnant 
women, and IPs who registered for early voting shall have the option to cast their 
ballot via post in designated precincts: Provided, That voters who wish to vote via post 
must first be registered to do so with the Commission.
The Commission shall provide rules, necessary safeguards, and confirmation 
procedures to properly implement this provision.
Sec. 5. Emergency Accessible Polling Places (EAPP). - During election day, the 
Commission shall designate a room or a makeshift or temporary polling place 
established at the ground of a voting center or outside of it but in close proximity 
thereto, where senior citizens, PWDs and pregnant women voters may vote on election 
day.
The Commission shall ensure that the voting procedure in the EAPP, Including 
the facilities, materials, and a voting machine in the event of automated elections, are 
adequate, appropriate, accessible, and easy to understand and use, and that 
reasonable accommodation shall be granted to PWDs, senior citizens, and pregnant 
women in order that they may fully exercise their right of suffrage. The Commission 
shall provide live assistance for PWDs such as sign language Interpreters.


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Sec. 6. Section 2(j) of Republic Act No. 10366 is hereby amended to read as
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follows:
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"SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - XXX
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a. XXX
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XXX
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(j) Accessible polling place refers to the venue where the Board
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of Election Inspectors (BEIs) conducts 
election-related
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proceedings and where the voters cast their votes. The
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accessible polling place shall be located at the ground floor,
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preferably near the entrance of the building, SHALL BE
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READILY 
ACCESSIBLE 
TO 
PUBLIC
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TRANSPORTATION, and [is] SHALL BE free of any physical
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barriers and provided with necessary INFRASTRUCTURE AND
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services, including assistive devices, 
TRANSPORT
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WHEELCHAIRS, RAMPS, RAILINGS, 
SIDEWALKS,
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ADEQUATE LIGHTING, VENTILATION, 
AND OTHER
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FEATURES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND
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SENIOR CITIZENS"
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Sec. 7. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 10366 is hereby amended to read as
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follows:
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"Sec. 9. [Crcation~ef[ Precincts for Persons with Disabilities
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and Senior Citizens. - The Commission Is hereby authorized to
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[establish] DESIGNATE precincts [of a nonterritoriai nature,] IN
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ACCESSIBLE POLLING PLACES FOR THE excluslve[iv^]
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USE OF persons with disabilities and senior citizens [who in their
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registration records manifest their intent to avail of their right to
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a separate precinct under this section. Pursuant hereto, the
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Commission shall establish at least one (1) such precinct,
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assigned to accessible polling places, for every voting center,]
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SUCH AS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TOWN HALLS OR PLAZAS,


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CIVIC CENTERS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, OR OTHER 
SIMILARLY DESIGNATED SPECIAL VENUES OR AREAS,
WITH PREFERENCE FOR VENUES DESIGNED WITH 
SPECIAL FEATURES TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY AND 
COMFORT. Such precincts shall be provided with assistive 
devices PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 2(J)
OF THIS ACT as well as the services of experts in assisting 
persons with disabilities, SUCH AS SIGN LANGUAGE 
INTERPRETERS.
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from 
approval of this Act, the Commission shall, in consultation with other relevant 
government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and civil society organizations, 
promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act.
Sec. 9. Appropriations. - The initial appropriation to carry out the provisions of 
this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the Commission. 
Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act or part hereof 
be declared unconstitutional, the other provisions or parts not affected thereby shall 
remain valid and effective.
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances or 
portions thereof, which are Inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
Sec. 12. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved.