FIFTEENTH ,CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
f' ~) :':'6 
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 and 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. I 
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DEFErtj0R SAJ<fTIAC(P 
1 This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session 
1 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN~l:. 
S. No. 
J.~43 
nELkn/r:i f f1\ . ""h""~_f~" "" 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
PROVIDING FOR A SPECIAL POLLING PLACE FOR THE DISABLED AND THE 
3 
ELDERLY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act may be cited as "The Special Polling Act" 
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SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. -As used in this act, the term: 
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(A) "Special polling place" refers to the place where the board of election inspectors 
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conducts election-related proceedings such as registration, voting and the like, that is easily 
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accessible to the disabled and the elderly; 
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(B) "Barrier free environment" refers to an area where the special polling place within a 
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voting center is located, having such architectural or stmctural features which reasonably 
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enhance the mobility of the disabled and the elderly such as sidewalks, ramps, railing, and the 
12 
like or is easily accessible to wheelchairs; 
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(C) "Voting center" refers to the building or place where special polling takes place; 
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(D) "Disabled" refers to those persons with physical, physiological or sensory 
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impairment, or those persons suffering from restrictions of different abilities to perform an 
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activity in the manner or within the range considered normal to a human being and at the same 
, 
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time, possess the qualifications and none of the disqualifications of a voter; and 
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(E) "Elderly" refers to senior citizens who have physical limitations due to age or 
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sickness and at the same time possess the qualifications and none of the disqualifications of a 
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voter. 
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SECTION 3. Special Polling Places for the Disabled and the Elderly. - The Commission 
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on Elections, in coordination with local government units, concerned government agencies and 
3 
other concerned groups and organizations shall conduct a study on the disabled and the elderly in 
4 
a locality to get data on their number, distribution, the extent of their limitations which may 
5 
restrict their ability to participate in election-related activities, and other relevant information. 
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Afterwards, the COMELEC shall provide for a special polling places for the disabled and the 
7 
elderly; Provided, That the number and location of the special polling places shall be deteffilined 
8 
by the outcome of the study; provided further, that the designation of special polling places shall 
9 
not compromise nor alter the principle or territorial jurisdiction used in election-related activities 
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such that no special precincts shall be created for the purpose; provided further, that as a safety 
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measure, once the COMELEC deteffilines who among the disabled and the elderly require a 
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special polling place, it shall make a separate list containing the name, address, a brief 
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description of the disability or physical limitation, the precinct and the city or municipality where 
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he/she belongs, and if already available, the voter's identification number. The list shall be 
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posted one (1) month before any election-related activity, in two (2) conspicuous places in the 
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city or municipal hall for one (1) week and shall be regularly updated. Those included in the list· 
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shall only be allowed to use hi/her designated special polling place, while others who are not in 
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the list, shall not be allowed to use the same; provided finally, that the special polling places 
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shall be located in a barrier free environment, easily accessible to the disabled and the elderly. 
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SECTION 4. Information and ffducation Campaign. - The commission shall conduct an 
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infoffilation and education campaign for the effective implementation of this act. 
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SECTION 5. Rules and Regulations. - The Commission on Elections shall issue the 
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necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation ofthis Act. 
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· . 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
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provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
Approved, 
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