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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
First Regular Session 
mpuBLrc OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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SENATE 
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S. No. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
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. 
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 for those 
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. 
This is a substitute form of a bill discussed in public hearings last Congress. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
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S. No. 
6 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A SPECIAL POLLING PLACE FOR THE DISABLED AND 
THE ELDERLY 
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 2004." 
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF TERMS. - AS 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 PROCEEDINGS SUCH AS 
REGISTRATION, VOTING AND THE LIKE, THAT IS EASILY ACCESSBLE 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, 
RAILINGS, AND THE LIKE OR IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO WHEELCHAIRS; 
(C) VOTING CENTER REFERS TO THE BUILDING OR PLACE WHERE A SPECIAL 
POLLING PLACE COULD BE LOCATED. 
(D) DISABLED REFERS TO THOSE PERSONS WITH PHYSICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL 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 DISQUALIFICATIONS OF A 
VOTER: AND 
(E) ELDERLY REFERS TO SENIOR CITIZENS WHO HAVE PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS DUE 
TO AGE OR SICKNESS AND AT THE SAME TIME. POSSESS THE QUALIFICATIONS AND 
NONE OF THE DISQUALIFICATIONS 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 IN A LOCALITY TO GET DATA ON THEIR NUMBER, 
DISTRIBUTION7 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.] ; PROVIDED7 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 JURISDICTION 
USED IN ELECTION-RELATED ACTIVITIES SUCH THAT NO SPECIAL PRECINCTS 
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, 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 
HE/SHE BELONGS, AND IF ALREADY AVAILABLE, THE VOTER’S IDENTIFICATION 
NUMBER. 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. THOSE INCLUDED 
1N 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 BARRlER FREE EWLRONMENT, EASILY 
ACCESSIBLE TO THE DISABLED AND THE ELDERLY. 
SEC. 4. INFORMATION AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGN. - THE COMMISSION SHALL 
CONDUCT AN INFORMATION AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGN FOR THE EFFECTIVE 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT. 
SEC. 5. Rules and Regulations. - The Commission on Elections shall issue the necessary rules and 
regulations for the elective implementation of this Act. 
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 tile provisions of this 
Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SEC 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval. 
Approved,