Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Election Code for the 21st Century (2011)

Updated: June 2015

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Section 6.003 states:

Any citizen of the United States of America and of Puerto Rico who is legally domiciled in the Island’s jurisdiction and who, by the date of a scheduled election event, has attained the age of eighteen (18) years, is duly qualified prior to said election event, and has not been declared mentally incompetent by a Court of Law shall be a voter in Puerto Rico.

 

Excerpts from the Puerto Rico Election Code for the 21st Century (2011)

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Section 3.008 states:

The [Election Commission] Chair, Alternate Chair, and Vice Chairs may be removed from office for the following reasons… 5. Partial or total and permanent disability that impairs them from discharging their duties...

 

Section 3.012 states:

In the event that the [Election Commission] Secretary is temporarily absent or disabled, the First Deputy Secretary shall become Acting Secretary for the length of said absence or disability…

 

Section 3.014 states:

…Alternate [Election] Commissioners shall perform the duties of the Election Commissioners in case of absence, disability, resignation, death, removal or when the office is vacant for any reason, and until the Election Commissioner in question returns to his/her duties or a new designation is made...

 

Section 5.002 states:

…The Alternate Chair [of the Election Commission] shall carry out the functions of the Chair in case of absence, disability, death, removal, or when, for any reason, a vacancy arises in said office...

 

Section 6.003 states:

Any citizen of the United States of America and of Puerto Rico who is legally domiciled in the Island’s jurisdiction and who, by the date of a scheduled election event, has attained the age of eighteen (18) years, is duly qualified prior to said election event, and has not been declared mentally incompetent by a Court of Law shall be a voter in Puerto Rico.

 

Section 6.005 states:

Any person who is declared mentally incompetent by a Court of Law shall not be entitled to exercise his/her right to vote, even if he/she is a qualified voter.

 

Section 6.017, subsection (a) states:

In order to exclude a voter who appears in the General Voter Registry, a voter’s registration challenge and exclusion petition form shall be filed with the local election commission concerned, based on one or more of the following grounds:…

  • (6) That the individual challenged has been declared mentally incompetent by a Court of Law…

 

Section 6.021 states:

The Courts Administrator shall send to the Commission, on a monthly basis during an election year and on a quarterly basis during years in which elections are not held, a list of those persons who have been legally declared as mentally incompetent...

 

Excerpts from the Puerto Rico Election Code for the 21st Century (2011)

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Section 3.002 states:

…In carrying out this function, the Commission shall have the following duties, in addition to any others provided in this Act:…

  • (m) To develop a plan for affirmative action and approve the pertinent regulations to facilitate the exercise of the right to vote of people with disabilities…

 

Section 5.008 states:

…In addition to any other functions and duties provided in this Act or the regulations promulgated thereunder, said Electoral Unit Boards shall: …

  • (3) Set up an easy-access polling place in the Electoral Unit for people with disabilities…

 

Section 6.004 states:

A voter shall not lose his/her [Electoral] domicile due to [residing] permanently in a housing facility, elderly home, retirement center, assisted living community, or … persons with special needs may claim such residence to be his/her electoral domicile if it meets the conditions that his/her main personal activities revolve around it for health or disability reasons…

 

Section 6.014 states:

The Commission shall create and maintain election-related information systems via telephone or electronic media to allow voters direct access to verify their voter registration status. These systems shall be accessible to voters with disabilities…

 

Section 9.016 states:

In each precinct, polling center, or Electoral Unit, as established by the Commission through regulation, an easily accessible polling place shall be set up to facilitate the voting process for voters with disabilities.

 

Section 9.022 states:

Each polling place shall have election material available in quantities to be determined through regulations. Likewise, the Commission shall provide the necessary facilities and equipment through regulations so that persons with disabilities may exercise their right to vote.

 

Section 9.030 states:

Any voter who is unable to mark the ballots due to disability shall have the right to choose a person who, all the while safeguarding the secrecy of the vote, shall mark the ballots as instructed by the voter. The person chosen by the voter may be an official assigned to the voter’s polling place. The Commission shall provide other alternatives so that persons with disabilities may exercise their right to vote in an independent and secret manner. However, the voter shall be entitled to use the method of his/her preference.

 

Section 9.035 states:

Duly qualified voters who are entitled to the process of absentee voting are those who are outside of Puerto Rico on the day of an election and fall in one of the following categories:…

  • (l) Any person who, on the date of a General Election, is undergoing medical treatment outside of Puerto Rico due to a catastrophic illness, thus declared in a sworn statement and in a certification issued by the medical institution where said treatment will be administered. Any relative or person who is accompanying the person receiving such treatment may also request the absentee vote…

 

Section 9.039 states:

Duly qualified voters shall be entitled to voluntarily cast their advance vote if they are in Puerto Rico and fall under any of the following categories…

  • (j) Persons who are admitted to a duly authorized hospital, treatment center, or long-term health care facility that can certify that they shall still be admitted therein on the day of an election…

 

Excerpts from the Puerto Rico Election Code for the 21st Century (2011)

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Section 3.008 states:

The [Election Commission] Chair, Alternate Chair, and Vice Chairs may be removed from office for the following reasons… 5. Partial or total and permanent disability that impairs them from discharging their duties...

 

Section 3.012 states:

In the event that the [Election Commission] Secretary is temporarily absent or disabled, the First Deputy Secretary shall become Acting Secretary for the length of said absence or disability…

 

Section 3.014 states:

…Alternate [Election] Commissioners shall perform the duties of the Election Commissioners in case of absence, disability, resignation, death, removal or when the office is vacant for any reason, and until the Election Commissioner in question returns to his/her duties or a new designation is made...

 

Section 5.002 states:

…The Alternate Chair [of the Election Commission] shall carry out the functions of the Chair in case of absence, disability, death, removal, or when, for any reason, a vacancy arises in said office...

 

Excerpts from the Puerto Rico Election Code for the 21st Century (2011)