NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
j, ssinn:*’
72 JUL19 P6 *44
SENATE 
S.B. No. 777
RECEiVEOBY
IntroQuced bv Senator SONNY ANGAP^A
AN ACT
ENHANCING ACCESSIBILITY IN THE VOTING OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND 
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 
2(J) AND 9, AND CREATING NEW SECTIONS 9-A AND 9-B UNDER REPUBLIC 
ACT NO- 10366, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE 
COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS TO ESTABLISH PRECINCTS ASSIGNED TO 
ACCESSIBLE POLLING PLACES EXCLUSIVELY FOR PERSONS WITH 
DISABILITIES AND SENIOR CITIZENS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Voting is the cornerstone of any democracy. No less than the Constitution 
enshrines suffrage under Section 1, Article V providing that the right to vote "may be 
exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law, who are 
at least eighteen years of age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at 
least one year, and :n the place wherein they propose to vote, for at least six months 
immediately preceding the election. No literacy, property, or other substantive 
requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage."
There were 67.4 million Filipinos who registered to vote in the 2022 National 
and Local Elections as recorded by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Of this 
number, 10 million or 15 percent are senior citizens, while there are at least 512,000 
persons with disabilities (PWDs) per COMELEC statistics.
Non-government organizations, such as the Tahanang Walang Hagdan, flagged 
that accessibility features are among the primary concerns in voting precincts as 
certain PWDs n ;ay not be fully accommodated. The difficulty of PWDs in casting their 
ballot was reflected in the 2019 elections as the Asia Foundation found that only 70 
percent of the registered PWDs signified their intention to vote. This is because


numerous sites did not have ground floor level voting areas, ramps, and other 
necessary facilities needed for accessibility, and that reaching these locations alone 
poses a challenge given the limited public transportation options.
In addition to accessibility issues, the COVID-19 health crisis hinders the 
participation of these two vulnerable sectors during elections with the high risk of 
infection associated with mass gatherings. The Council on Foreign Relations noted 
that one consequence of holding polls during a pandemic is the lower voter turnout 
as many would opt not to vote out of fear of contracting the virus. The international 
organization found 9 out of 15 countries that held elections in 2020 registered declines 
in the number of voters who casted their ballots from the previous election.
Thus, it is only proper to enhance voting accessibility for these vulnerable 
sectors. The proposed measure amends Republic Act No. 10j66, other\/ise known as 
An Act Authorizing The Commission On Elections To Establish Precincts Assigned To 
Accessible Polling Places Exclusively For Persons With Disabilities And Senior Citizens, 
to authorize the COMELEC to designate precincts in accessible polling places for the 
exclusive use of PWDs and senior citizens, such as in public schools, town halls or 
plazas, civic centers, community centers or other similarly designated special venues 
or areas, and preferably those designed with special features to ensure safety and 
comfort, which should be reachable by public transportation and equipped with 
essential features for the vulnerable sectors. Further, the Bill allows early voting of 
senior citizens ind PWDs, with the cption to vote through mail, to isolate them from 
all other voters to reduce their risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SONNY ANGARA


'''liB-'f*ur a[ ii'ic f-...; 
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
'22 JUL 19 P6 :44
S.B. No.
SENATE
777
pa-CEivt-.f) e
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
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AN ACT
ENHANCING ACCESSIBILITY IN THE VOTING OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND 
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 
2(J) AND 9, A ID CREATING NEW SECTIONS 9-A AND 9-E UNDER REPUBLIC 
ACT NO. 10366, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE 
COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS TO ESTABLISH PRECINCTS ASSIGNED TO 
ACCESSIBLE POLLING PLACES EXCLUSIVELY FOR PERSONS WITH 
DISABILITIES AND SENIOR CITIZENS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in the Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 2(j) of Republic Act No. 10366 is hereby amended as
follows:
"SEC. 2. Definition of Terms, -xxx
(j) Accessible polling place refers to the venue where the Board of 
Election Inspectors (BEIs) conducts election-related proceedings and 
where the voters cast their votes. The accessible polling place shall he 
located at the ground floor, preferably near the entrance of the building, 
SHALL BE READILY ACCESSIBLE TO PUBLIC 
TRANSPORTATION and [is] SHALL BE free of any physical barriers 
and provided with necessary INFRASTRUCTURE AND services, 
including assistive devices[.], RAMPS, RAILINGS, SIDEWALKS, 
ADEQUATE LIGHTING, VENTILATION AND OTHER FEATURES 
FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND SENIOR CITIZENS."


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Sec. 2. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 10366 is hereby amended as follows:
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"SEC. 9. [Creatiofi-of] Precincts for Persons with Disabiiities and Senior
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Citizens. - The Commission is hereby authorized to [establish]
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DESIGNATE precincts [of a nonterritorial nature] AS ACCESSIBLE
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POLLING PLACES FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF [exclusively for]
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persons with disabilities and senior citizens, SUCH AS IN PUBLIC
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SCHC OLS, TOWN HALLS OR PLAZaS, CIVIC CENTERS,
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COMMUNITY CENTERS OR OTHER SIMILARLY DESIGNATED
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SPECIAL VENUES OR AREAS, AND PREFERABLY THOSE
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DESIGNED WITH SPECIAL FEATURES, TO ENSURE THEIR
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SAFETY AND COMFORT, [who in their registration records manifest
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their intent to avail of their right to a separate precinct under this
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section. Pursuant hereto, the Commission shall establish at least one
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(1) such precinct, assigned to accessible polling places, for every voting
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center]. Such precincts shall be provided with assistive devices
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PURSUANT TO THE PRC\/ISIONS OF SECTION 2(3) OF THIS ACT
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as well as the services of experts in assisting persons with disabilities.
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Sec. 3. A new section designated as Section 9-A under Republic Act No.
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10366 is hereby inserted to read as follows:
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"SEC. 9-A. EARLY VOTING. - FOR NATIONAL AND LOCAL
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ELECTIONS, THERE SHALL BE EARLY VOTING WHERE SENIOR
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CITIZENS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES QUALIFIED TO
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VOTE EARLY MAY CHOOSE TO CAST THEIR BALLOT FOR A
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PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN TWO (2) DAYS WITHIN FIFTEEN
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(15) CALENDAR DAYS BEFORE ELECTION DAY AT ACCESSIBLE
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ESTABLISHMENTS DESIGNATED BY THE COMMISSION ON
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ELECTIONS.
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FOR THIS PURPOSE, ACCESSIBLE ESTABLISHMENTS
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SHALL HAVE SUFFICIENT DISABILITl SUPPORT SERVICES,
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LOCATED AT THE GROUND FLOOR OF DESIGNATED ELECTION
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OFFICES OR STRATEGIC AREAS AT EVERY CITY OR
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MUNICIPALITY ALL OVER THE COUNTRY."


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Sec. 4. A new section designated as Section 9-B under Republic Act No. 
10366 is herebv inserted to read as follows:
"SEC. 9-B. OPTION FOR POSTAL EARLY VOTING. - SENIOR 
CITIZENS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 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 ON 
ELECTIONS.
THE COMMISSION SHALL PROVIDE RULES, NECESSARY 
SAFEGUARDS, AND CONFIRMATIOfi PROCEDURES TO 
PROPERLY IMPLEMENT THIS PROVISION."
Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days 
from the approval of this Act, the COMELEC shall, in consultation with other 
relevant government and nongovernment agencies, promulgate the rules and 
regulations necessary to implement this Act.
Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions thereof which are not 
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or other issuances or parts thereof, inconsistent with this Act, are 
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspaoers of general circulation.
Approved,