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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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JUL 18 P 3 :11 
SENATE 
S.B.No.~24 
Introduced By Seuator Manuel '''Lito'' M. Lapia . 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Our democracy requires broad participation in electoral exercises and the 
exercise of the right of suffrage by persons who have all the qualifications and none Of 
the disqualifications to vote. 
Voters are required to be physically present in the polling place where they are 
registered in order that they may exercise their right to vote. This rule is subject to 
several exceptions, such as members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and 
members of the Philippine National Police who are duly registered voters and 
temporarily assigned to perform public functions on election day in places where they 
are not registered. There is also pending legislation to grant an exemption to members 
of the media who are aSSigned to perform their functions on election day in places 
where they are not registered. 
This bill seeks to extend the exception to members of the staff of national 
electoral candidates and registered national political parties who are called to be outside 
their place of registration on election day given the Wide-spread area covered by the 
national election. This bill seeks to grant such persons the opportunity to exercise their 
right of suffrage, under certain conditions. 
The passage of this bill is also in the national interest considering that it will 
ensure a higher voter turnout and promote greater involvement of the citizenry in the 
electoral process. 
.L) 
C/ -----" 
MANUEL "'LITO" M. LAP~I 
Senator 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBilC 
OF THE PIDIlPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B.No.S2A 
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Introduced By Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
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'13 
JUL 18 P3 :11 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR EARLY VOTING FOR QUAilFlED MEMBERS OF THE 
STAFF OF ELECTORAL CANDIDATES AND REGISTERED NATIONAL 
POilTICAL PARTIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Early Voting for Electoral 
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Staff Act of 2013" . 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy.-It is a policy of the State to ensure the free 
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exercise of the right of suffrage by all citizens of the Philippines who are not otherwise 
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disqualified by law. 
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SEC. 3. Coverage. - Electoral staff of national electoral candidates and registered . 
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national political parties who are registered voters but, by reason of their functions and 
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duties as electoral staff, are assigned on election day to a place other than their place of 
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registration may avail of the voting procedure provided under this Act. 
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"Electoral staff" are employees or volunteers assisting a candidate or a registered 
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national political party in the conduct, monitoring and safeguarding of election-related 
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activities. For purposes of this Act, in no case shall the number of a national candidate's 
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or registered national political party's electoral staff exceed the total number of cities 
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and municipalities in the Philippines, as reflected by the Commission on Elections' 
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("COMELEC') progress reports. 
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SEC. 4. Request for Application Form. - Not later than thirty (30) days before the 
election, a national electoral candidate or a registered national political party whose 
electoral staff are covered by this Act shall submit to the COMELEC a list of the names,· 
designatio1\. place of registration, and place of aSSignment of such electoral staff. Such 
list shall be accompanied with a request that such registered voters be provided with an 
application form to cast absentee ballots in accordance with this Act and the rules and 
regulations to be promulgated by the COMELEC in accordance hereto. The list and the 
request shall both be accomplished under oath. 
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SEC. 5. COMELEC Verification of Request. - Upon verification by the 
COMELEC that the persons included in the list are qualified voters, it shall transmit the 
exact number of application forms to the candidate making the request. 
SEC. 6. Application for Absentee Voting. - The registered voters concerned shall 
personally accomplish the application for absentee voting and shall promptly submit 
the same to the COMELEC within the period provided for submission. 
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verification of the applications, the COMELEC shall transmit the exact number of 
absentee ballots to the appropriate Office of the City or Municipal Election Registrar. 
SEC. 7. Voting.- The absentee voters shall vote not later than one week before 
election day. They shall do so by casting their votes in the office of the City or 
Municipal Election Registrar of the place of their registration. 
SEC. 8. Sanctity and Secrecy of Absentee Ballots. - The COMELEC shall 
promulgate rules and provide a mechanism ensuring the sanctity and secrecy of the 
special absentee ballots to be accomplished in accordance with this Act. 
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SEC. 9. Transmission of the Absentee Ballots. - The COMELEC official to whom 
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the special absentee ballot is delivered shall immediately transmit the same to the 
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COMELEC, by the fastest means available, so that all special absentee ballots are in the 
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custody of the COMELEC Central Office before the closing of the polls on election day. 
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The transmittal letter shall indicate the names of the persons who cast the 
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absentee votes, their voter's registration record number and their certificates of 
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eligibility to vote as absentee voters. 
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SEC. 10. Canvass of Absentee Votes. - The COMELEC shall canvass the votes 
cast in accordance with this Act and shall add the results of said canvass to the votes 
reported throughout the country. 
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The COMELEC shall 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act. 
SEC. 12. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of 
this Act shall be provided in a supplemental budget or included in the General 
Appropriations Act of the year of its enactment into law. Thereafter, the expenses for 
its continued implementation shall be included in the subsequent General 
Appropriations Act 
SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act shall be 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected 
thereby shall remain in full force and effect 
SEC. 14. Repealing Clause.-Alllaws, decrees, executive orders, issuances, rules 
and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 15. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
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circulation. 
Approved, 
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