Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________ 
Introduced by 
HON. CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR EARLY VOTING BY QUALIFIED SENIOR 
CITIZENS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN NATIONAL AND LOCAL 
ELECTIONS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution guarantees that right to suffrage to all citizens of the Philippines not 
otherwise disqualified by law.1 It is through suffrage that we ensure that we have a 
government of the people, for the people, and by the people, which is the very essence 
of democracy. 
Waiting in long lines for one’s turn to vote is the norm during elections in the Philippines. 
Everyone must wait in line for their turn to vote. 
Our recent struggle in managing the COVID-19 virus has led us to reassess our system 
of doing things, especially when it involves vulnerable members of our society like senior 
citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD), who are among the most vulnerable to 
communicable diseases. 
As of late, the Commission of Elections (COMELEC) has extended accommodations for 
this group, allowing them to be prioritized through fast voting lanes and special polling 
1 The 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article V, Section 1 
November 15, 2022
10:45 am
6134


places, yet there are still a lot of ways for the government to improve their voting 
experience, which may only be authorized through legislative measures. 
Under this proposal, senior citizens and PWDs who are qualified and registered for early 
voting may cast their votes within seven working days before the date set for the election 
in accessible establishments designated by the COMELEC. This option would still be 
available to them whether they were within or outside the localities in which they were 
originally registered to vote, much like in the absentee voting of members of the Armed 
Forces, the Philippine National Police, and the media. 
In the furtherance of democracy, ug sa ngalan sa Serbisyong Tinuoray, the undersigned 
urges the immediate approval of this bill. 
CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP 
Representative, Second District of Southern Leyte 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________ 
Introduced by 
HON. CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR EARLY VOTING BY QUALIFIED SENIOR 
CITIZENS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN NATIONAL AND LOCAL 
ELECTIONS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
1 
make voting convenient for senior citizens and persons with disabilities 
2 
(PWDs) by giving them the option to vote earlier than the date set for the 
3 
election. 
4 
SEC. 2. Early Voting. - For national and local elections, there shall be early voting 
5 
where senior citizens and PWDs qualified to vote early may choose to cast 
6 
their ballot at accessible establishments designated by the Commission on 
7 
Elections (COMELEC) within seven (7) working days before the date set for 
8 
the election. 
9 
SEC. 3. Registration. - There shall be a nationwide registration for senior citizens and 
10 
PWDs who may wish to avail of their early voting privileges to qualify them 
11 
for early voting. Those who are not registered under this Act shall vote on 
12 
Election Day. 
13 
SEC. 4. Obligations of the COMELEC. - To ensure the smooth implementation of 
14 
this Act, the COMELEC shall: 
15 
(a) Keep a record of senior citizens and PWDs who are registered
16 
voters;
17 
(b) In coordination with local government units, the National Council
18 
on Disability Affairs, the Commission on Human Rights, the
19 
Department of Health and the Department of Interior and Local
20 
6134


Government, design a registration system that shall allow senior 
21 
citizens and PWDs to register and opt for early voting in order to 
22 
improve their voting experience in national and local elections; 
23 
(c) Ensure the full implementation of Republic Act No. 10366, entitled 
24 
"An Act Authorizing the Commission on Elections to Establish 
25 
Precincts Assigned to Accessible Polling Places Exclusively for 
26 
Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizens" such that polling 
27 
places are safe, highly accessible and fitted with the necessary 
28 
communication, visual and physical aids; and  
29 
(d) Mount an intensive information campaign on early voting by 
30 
qualified senior citizens and PWDs.  
31 
SEC. 5. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to fund early voting by qualified 
32 
senior citizens and PWDs in national and local elections shall be included in 
33 
the annual General Appropriations Act. 
34 
SEC. 6. Applicability of Other Laws. - The provisions of Batas Pambansa Big. 881 or 
35 
the Omnibus Election Code; Republic Act No. 7166, entitled "An Act 
36 
Providing for Synchronized National and Local Elections and for Electoral 
37 
Reforms, Authorizing Appropriations Therefor, and for Other Purposes"; and 
38 
other election laws not inconsistent herewith shall be applied to facilitate the 
39 
early voting by qualified senior citizens and PWDs. 
40 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the 
41 
approval of this Act, the COMELEC shall, in consultation with other relevant 
42 
government and nongovernment agencies, promulgate the rules and 
43 
regulations necessary to implement this Act. 
44 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is declared 
45 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected 
46 
shall remain in full force and effect. 
47 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, ordinances, rules and 
48 
regulations, and other issuances or part thereof inconsistent with this Act are 
49 
henceforth repealed or modified accordingly.  
50 
SEC. 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the 
51 
Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. 
52 
Approved, 
53