' .. 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 935 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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This proposed measure seeks for the creation of special polling places for the 
elderly and: the disabled. This is in recognition of the fact that many of our disabled 
brothers and sisters are not able to cast their votes during elections because of the 
difficulties they experience in going through the polling places. 
Under this bill, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), in coordination with 
local government agencies and other concerned groups or organizations is hereby 
mandated to conduct a study on the disabled and the elderly in a locality to get data on 
their number distribution, the extent of their limitations which may restrict their ability to 
participate in election related activities, and other relevant information. Thereafter, the 
COMELEC is mandated to provide for special polling places for the disabled and the 
elderly. The number and location of the special polling places shall be determined by 
the. outcome of the study and that the designation of special polling places shall not 
compromise nor alter the principle of territorial jurisdiction used in election-related 
activities such that no special precincts shall be created for the purpose. 
Under this proposal, once the COMELEC determines who among the disabled 
and the elderly require a special polling place, it shall make a separate list containing 
the name, address, a brief description of the disability or physical limitation, the precinct 
and the city or muniCipality where disabled and the elderly. The list shall be posted one 
(1) month before any election-related activity, in two (2) conspicuous places in the city 
or municipal hall for one (1) week and shall be regularly updated. 
Finally, this measure provides that these special polling places shall be located in 
a barrier free environment, easily accessible to the disabled and the elderly. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly spdI. ~ 
........ 
MAN~ 
M. LAPID 
Senator 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 935 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A SPECIAL POLLING PLACE FOR THE DISABLED 
AND THE ELDERLY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Short Title . • This Act may be cited as the "Special Polling 
Place Act of 2010." 
mean: 
SEC. 2. 
Definition of Terms. -
As used in this Act, the following shall 
(1) 
A "SPECIAL POLLING PLACE" 
REFERS TO THE PLACE 
WHERE THE BOARD OF ELECTION INSPECTORS CONDUCTS 
, ELECTION 
RELATED 
PROCEEDINGS 
SUCH 
AS 
REGISTRATION, VOTING AND THE LIKE, THAT IS EASILY 
ACCESSIBLE TO THE DISABLED AND THE ELDERLY; 
(2) 
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, RAILINGS, AND THE LIKE OR IS 
EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO WHEELCHAIRS; 
(3) 
"VOTING CENTER" REFERS TO THE BUILDING OR PLACE 
WHERE A SPECIAL POLLING PLACE COULD BE LOCATED; 


(4) 
"DISABLED" REFERS TO THOSE PERSONS WITH PHYSICAL, 
PSYCHOLOGICAL OR SENSORY IMPAIRMENT, OR THOSE 
PERSONS SUFFERING FROM RESTRICTIONS OF DIFFERENT 
ABILITIES TO PERFORM AN ACTIVITY IN THE MANNER OR 
WITHIN THE RANGE CONSIDERED NORMAL TO A HUMAN 
BEING 
AND 
AT 
THE 
SAME 
TIME 
POSSESS 
THE 
QUALIFICATIONS AND NONE OF THE DISQUALIFIACTIONS 
, OF A VOTER; AND 
(5) 
"ELDERL Y" REFERS TO SENIOR CITIZENS WHO HAVE 
PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS DUE TO AGE OR SICKNESS AND AT 
THE SAME TIME, POSSESS THE QUALIFIACTIONS AND NONE 
OF THE DISQUALIFICATIONS OF A VOTER. 
SEC. 3. 
Special [ Registration and] POlling Places FOR THE DISABLED 
AND THE ELDERL Y. - The Commission on Elections, IN COORD INA TlON WITH 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OTHER CONCERNED GROUPS OR 
ORGANIZATIONS SHALL CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE DISABLED AND THE 
ELDERLY IN A LOCALITY TO GET DATA ON THEIR NUMBER DISTRIBUTION, THE 
EXTENT OF THEIR LIMITATIONS WHICH MAY RESTRICT THEIR ABILITY TO 
PARTICIPATE IN ELECTION RELATED ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER RELEVANT 
INFORMATION. AFTERWARDS, THE COMELEC 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 
LOCATION 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 COMPROMISE NOR ALTER THE 
PRINCIPLE OF TERRITORIAL JUSRISDICTION USED IN ELECTION-RELATED 
ACTIVITIES SUCH THAT NO SPECIAL PRECINTS SHALL BE CREATED FOR THE 
PURPOSE; PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT AS A SAFETY MEASURE, ONCE THE 
COMELEC DETERMINES WHO AMONG THE DISABLED AND THE ELDERLY 
REQUIRE A SPECIAL POLLING PLACE OT SHALL MAKE A SEPARATE LIST 
CONTAINING THE NAME, ADDRESS, A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISABILITY 
OR PHYSICAL LIMITATION, THE PRECINCT AND THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY 
WHERE HE/SHE BELONGS, AND IF ALREADY AVAILABLE THE VOTER'S 
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. THE LIST SHALL BE POSTED ONE (1) MONTH 
2 


.' 
BEFORE ANY ELECTION-RELATED ACTIVITY, IN TWO (2) CONSPICUOUS 
PLACES IN THE CITY OR MUNICIPAL HALL FOR ONE (1) WEEK AND SHALL BE 
REGULARLY UPDATED. THOSE INCLUDED IN THE LIST SHALL ONLY BE 
ALLOWED TO USE HIS/HER DESIGNATED SPECIAL POLLING PLACE, WHILE 
OTHERS WHO ARE NOT IN THE LIST SHALL NOT BE ALLOWED TO USE THE 
SAME; PROVIDED FINALLY, THAT THE SPECIAL POLLING PLACES SHALL BE 
LOCATED IN A BARRIER FREE ENVIRONMENT, EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO THE 
DISABLED AND THE ELDERLY. 
SEC. 4. 
Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign. -
The COMELEC, in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), shall 
conduct an information, education and communication (IEC) campaign for the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 5. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). -
Within six (6) 
months from the date of effectivity of this Act, the Commission on Election shall issue 
the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this measure, 
SEC, 6. 
Separability Clause. 
-
If any provision or part hereof is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 7. 
Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative rule or regulation contrary to or 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SEC. 8. 
approval. 
Approved, 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately after its 
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