EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) REPUBLIC OF THE PH ILIPPINES ) First Regular Session ) r-rn p -!s SENATE OQT-7 ?/::0Z JJ.04 S. B. No. In tro d u c e d by Sen. Im e e R. M arcos AN ACT PROVIDING FOR EARLY VOTING FOR QUALIFIED SENIOR CITIZENS AND PERSONS W ITH D IS A B ILITIE S IN ALL ELECTIONS Be i t enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f d ie Philippines in Congress assembled: 1 SECTION 1. D eclaration o f Policy. — I t is hereby declared the policy o f the 2 State to make voting accessible for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) 3 by giving them the option to vote earlier than the date set for the election. 4 SEC. 2. Early Voting. — For national and local elections, there shall be early 5 voting where senior citizens and PWDs qualified to vote early may choose to cast their 6 ballot for a period of not less than tw o (2) days within thirty (30) calendar days before 7 election day at accessible establishments designated by the Commission on Elections 8 (COMELEC). 9 For this purpose, accessible establishments shall have sufficient disability 10 support services, located at the ground floor o f designated election offices or strategic 11 areas at every city or municipality all over the country. 12 SEC. 3. R egistration. — There shall be a nationwide registration of senior 13 citizens and PWDs who may wish to avail of their early voting privileges to qualify 14 them for early voting. Only those who are not registered under this Act shall vote on 15 Election Day. 16 SEC. 17 18 4. O bligations o f the COMELEC. To ensure the smooth implementation of this Act, the COMELEC shall: (a) Keep a record o f senior citizens and PWDs who are registered voters;