EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. B. No. 1866
¥tVOEX
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
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 a 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 in 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 more than 61.8 million Filipinos who registered to vote in the 2019 
National and Local Elections as recorded by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). 
Of this number, 9.1 million or 14 percent are senior citizens based on COMELEC 
statistics1, while at least 342,300 are persons with disabilities (PWDs) as estimated 
by The Asia Foundation2.
It is alarming that, in the most recent National and Local Elections, only a 
small fraction of senior citizens and PWDs were willing to vote in accessible polling 
places as mandated by Republic Act No. 10366 or An Act Authorizing the Commission 
on Elections to Establish Precincts Assigned to Accessible Polling Places Exclusively
1 Commission on Eiections (COMELEC) Quick Stats on the May 13,2019 Nationai and Locai Eiections.
2 Bacungan, VJ. ‘Don't make us crawl on Eiection Day: PWD groups.” ABS-CBN News, 27 Aprii 2019, https://news.abs- 
cbn.com/spotlight/04/27/19/dont-make-us-crawl-on-election-day-pwd-groups


for Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizens. According to the Asia Foundation's 
Fully Abled Nation PWD initiative, only 240,000 PWDs and senior citizens overall 
signified their intention to vote during the 2019 elections in accessible polling places 
as these sites are not guaranteed to 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.3
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.4
With less than 2 years left before the next National and Local Elections, the 
right to vote of all Filipinos, particularly senior citizens and PWDs, must be protected 
to ensure that it can be fully exercised without restrictions.
Thus, it is only proper to enhance voting accessibility for these vulnerable 
sectors. The proposed measure amends 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, 
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 and PWDs, with the option 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.
rNNY ANGARA
3 Ibid.
4 Maiziand, L. “How countries are holding elections during the COVID-19 pandemic." Council on Foreign Relations, 17 September 2020, 
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/how-countries-are-holding-elections-during-covid-19-pandemic


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. No. 1866
FILED
DATE
BILLS
NDtX
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
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
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
the Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Section 2Q) of Republic Act No. 10366 is hereby amended as
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follows:
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"SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - xxx
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9
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xxx
(j) Accessible polling place refers to the venue where the Board of 
Election Inspectors (BEIs) conducts election-reiated 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


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necessary INFRASTRUCTURE AND services, including assistive
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devicesH, RAMPS, RAILINGS, SIDEWALKS, ADEQUATE
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LIGHTING, VENTILATION AND OTHER FEATURES FOR PERSONS
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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. [Grcation-of] Precincts for Persons with Disabiiities and
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Senior Citizens. - The Commission is hereby authorized to [establish]
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DESIGNATE precincts [of-o-nonterritorial-natore] IN ACCESSIBLE
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POLLING PLACES FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF [cxclusively-for]
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persons with disabilities and senior citizens, SUCH AS IN PUBLIC
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SCHOOLS, 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-regiGtration-rocords manifest
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their intent-to-avail-of-their-right to a-separate precinct under "this
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section.' Purstfant-heretoz-the-Gommission-shall-establiGh at leaGt-one-(-l-)
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such ■■ precinct,—assigned to ■ acccGGiblo-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 PROVISIONS 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 DISABILITY 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.
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10366 is hereby inserted to read as follows:
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'SEC. 9-B. OPTION FOR POSTAL EARL Y VOTING. - SENIOR
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CITIZENS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WHO
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REGISTERED FOR EARLY VOTING SHALL HAVE THE OPTION TO
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CAST THEIR BALLOT VIA POST IN DESIGNATED PRECINCTS:
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PROVIDED, THAT VOTERS WHO WISH TO VOTE VIA POST MUST
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FIRST BE REGISTERED TO DO SO WITH THE COMMISSION ON
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ELECTIONS.


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THE COMMISSION SHALL PROVIDE RULES, NECESSARY 
SAFEGUARDS, AND CONFIRMATION PROCEDURES TO 
PROPERLY IMPLEMENT THIS PROVISION."
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Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days
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from the approval of this Act, the COMELEC shall, in consultation with other relevant
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government and nongovernment agencies, promulgate the rules and regulations
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necessary to implement this Act.
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Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is
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declared unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions thereof which are not
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affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
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Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
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regulations or other issuances or parts thereof, inconsistent with this Act, are hereby
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repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 8. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,