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11 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPIhES 
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First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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’ EXPLANATORY NOTE 
A “polling place,” as defined in the Omnibus Election Code, Section 152, is the 
,building or place where the Board of Election Inspectors conducts its proceedings and 
where the voters cast their votes. 
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It also provides that “each polling. place shall be, as far as practicable, a ground 
floor and shall be of sufficient size to admit and comfortably accommodate forty voters at 
,’ one time ...” In line with this, the Magna Carta for Disabled !Persons (Republic Act No, 
7277) Section 29, also provides that “polling places should be’made accessible to disabled 
’ ’  persons during national or local elections.” 
However, despite these provisions, the accessibility of the polling place especially 
forlthose registered voters who have physical or sensory limitations, has been found to be 
wanting, Thus, the proposed bill seeks to provide for a special polling place for the 
disabled and the elderly. 
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This is a substitute form of a bill discussed in public hearings last Congress, 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First  regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Miriani Del'etisor Santiago 
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AN ACT P R O ~ I N G  
FOR A SPECIAL POLLING PLACE 
FOR THE DISABLED ANp T F  
ELDERLY 
Be if enacted by the Senate nnd the House of Representatives ofthe Philippines in 
Congess assembled: 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
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 - This Act may be, cited.as, "The Special Polling 
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Place Act of 1997." 
SEC. 2. 
DEFINITIION OF TERMS. - A S  USED IN THIS ACT, THE 
FOLLOWING SHALL MEAN 
(A) A SPECIAL POLLING PLACE REFERS TO THE PLACE WHERE 
THE BOARD OF ELECTION INSPECTORS CONDUCTS ELECTION- 
RELATED PROCEEDDJGS SUCH AS REGISTRATION, VOTING AND TH!3 
LIKE , THAT IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO THE DISABLED AND THE 
ELDERLY; 
(B) A BARRIER FREE ENVIRONMENT REFERS TO AN AREA 
WHERE THE SPECIAL POLLING PLACE WITHIN A VOTING CENTER IS 
LOCATED, 
HAVING 
SUCH ARCHITECTURAL OR 
STRUCTURAL 
FEATURES WHICH REASONABLY ENHANCE THE MOBILITY OF THE 
DISABLED AND THE ELDERLY SUCH AS 
SIDEWALKS, RAMPS, 


(D) DlSABLED REFERS TO THOSE PERSONS WITH PHYSICAL, 
PHYSIOLOGICAL. OR SENSORY IMPAIRMENT, OR THOSE 
PERSONS SUFFERING FROM RESTRICTIONS OF DIFFERENT 
ABJLITIES TO PERFORM AN ACTIVITY IN THE MANNER OK 
WI1"IN 
THE RANGE CONSIDERED NORMAL TO A HUMAN 
BEING 
AND 
AT 
THE 
SAME 
TIME, 
POSSESS 
THE 
QUALIFICATIONS AND NONE OF THE DISQUALIFICATIONS OF 
A VOTER, AND 
(E) ELDERLY REFERS TO SENIOR CITIZENS WHO HAVE 
PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS DUE TO AGE OR SICKNESS AND AT 
THE SAhtE Tlh4E. POSSESS THE QUALIFICATIONS AND NONE 
OF THE DISQUALLFlCATlONS OF A VOTER. 
SECTION 3. Special (Registration and] Polling Places FOR THE DISABLED 
AND THE ELDERLY. - The Commission on Elections, IN COORDINATION WITH 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS. CONCERNED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND 
OTHER CONCERNED GROUPS OR ORGANIZATIONS shall CONDUCT A STUDY 
ON THE DISABLED AND THE ELDERLY n\J A LOCALITY TO GET DATA ON 
THEIR NUMBER. DISTRIBUTION, THE EXTENT OF THEIR LIMITATIONS 
\VHlCH h4.4Y RESTRICT THEIR ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTION- 
RELATED 
ACTIVITIES. 
AND 
OTHER 
RELEVANT 
WORMATION. 
AFTERWARDS. THE COhELEC SHALL provide for [a] special [registration] polling 
places for the disabled and THE ELDERLY [senior citizens which are easily accessible to 
them.] ; PROVIDED, THAT THE NUMBER AND LOCATlON OF THE SPECIAL 
POLLING PLACES SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE OUTCOME OF THE 
STUDY; PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT THE DESIGNATION OF SPECIAL. 
POLLING PLACES SHALL NOT COWROMISE NOR ALTER THE PRINCIPLE OF 
TERRITOnJAL JURISDICTION USED n\r ELECTION-RELATED ACTIVITIES 
SUCH THAT NO SPECIAL PRECINCTS SHALL BE CREATED FOR THE 
PURPOSE; PRONDED FURTHER, THAT AS A SAFETY MEASURE, ONCE THE 
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REQVIRE .A SPECIAL POLLING PLACE. IT SHALL MAKE A SEPARATE LIST 
CONTAINING THE NAME. ADDRESS. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TIIE 
l~lS.~l3lLl'l'\' OK PHYSICAL LIMLTATION. THE PRECINCT AND THE CITY OR 
MUNICIPALIT)' WHERE HE/SHE BELONGS, AND IF ALREADY AVAILABLE, 
THE SOI~EI1'S 1DEN'III~'IC'ATION NUMBER 'THE LIST SHALL 13E POSI'ED ONE 
( I )  MONTH BEFORE ANY ELECTION-RELATED ACTIVITY, IN TWO (2) 
CONSPltllOllS PLACES IN TIHE CITY OR MUNICIPAL HALL FOR ONE (1) 
M'EL:I; ANI) SIIALL BE IIEGULARLY UPDATED. THOSE lNCLUDED 1N I'HE 
1,lST SHAI.1, ONLY 131: ALLOWED TO IJSE HIS/IHER DESIGNATED SI'l<CIAL 
POLL.ING I'Lr\CE. \\'lllLE OTHERS WHO ARE NOT 1N THE LIST, SHALL NOT 
13E ALLOM'EI) 'TO USE THE SAME. PROVIDED FINALLY, THAT TIHE SPECIAL 
POLI.ING l'l.4CES SIIA1.L BE LOCATED IN A BARRIER FREE EN\URONI\4[:NT, 
E.&SILY ACCESSlBLE TO THE DlSABLED AND THE ELDERLY 
SEC. 
-1. 
INFORMATION 
AND 
EDUCATlON CAMPAIGN. - THE 
COVhllSSIOK SHALL.. CONDUCT AN INFORMATION AND EDUCATION 
C:\\II'.\lGTi 
1:01< T1HE EI'FECTIVE I~IPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT. 
SEC 5 Rules and liegulations. - The Conmission on Elections shall issue tile 
iiecessary 1.111cs and regilntions for the effective implementation ofthis Act. 
SEC. 6 Scparabilil!: Clause. - If any provision or part Iiei-eoF is held inv;ilitl 01' 
tincoiis~itutioiial, the reniainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected sl~ail 
I-emain vali ' and subsistins 
SEC' 7 Repealing Clause. - Any law. presidential decree or issuance, execLilive 
order. letter of instruction, administrative rde or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with the provisioiis oftliis Act is hereby repealed. lnodified or amended accordingly. 
SEC I; Effectivity Clause - This Act sliall take effect immediately after its 
ap pr ov a1 
Appl-o\ed.