COVID-19 patients can't cast ballot; only in-person voting allowed

CEBU, Philippines —  Registered voters will be stripped of their rights to cast their votes in the May 2022 national and local elections if they test positive for COVID-19 on election day or if they will be placed under quarantine on the day of elections.

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) spokesman James Jimenez told reporters in a Viber message that they have never thought of allowing COVID-19 patients from going outside their quarantine facilities just so they can cast their votes.

Jimenez also emphasized that the law states no other alternative means of casting votes other than in-person voting.

“The Comelec is fully cognizant of the risks - both to the patient and the public - associated with making a COVID positive person go out to vote. This being so, the idea of requiring such persons to leave their isolation facilities was never really on the table,” Jimenez said.

“As to the possibility of alternative means of voting, unfortunately, these are not authorized by law and will not be employed on 9 May 2022 [national and local elections],” he added when asked if the poll body will allow other modes of voting for COVID-19 patients.

Jimenez’s statement came after Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Rosario Vergerie asked the COMELEC to explore other options such as digital voting for coronavirus-infected persons during the May 9, 2022 elections.

Vergerie’s statement stemmed from the recent pronouncement of COMELEC Chairman Sheriff Abas that they would set-up “isolation polling places, or IPPs” on the election day where individuals manifesting COVID-19 symptoms will cast their votes away from the general public.

Jimenez clarified that the IPPs are intended to serve individuals who will present COVID-19 symptoms upon their arrival at the voting centers on election day as he emphasized that they will not be turned away due to their health conditions.

“While these persons may indeed turnout to be COVID positive, they will not be turned away automatically just because they are suspected to be potential cases. Instead, they will be directed to IPPs where they can vote away from the general public, with all the necessary precautions appropriate to their health condition,” he said.

In a virtual press conference, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon urged the registered voters who are aware of their COVID-19 status to avoid going outside and casting their votes on the election day to avoid the spread of the virus.

“Maawa naman po kayo sa kapwa niyo, syempre mahirap po, pero may tao talaga na asymptomatic … if alam na may COVID ‘wag na bumoto,” Guanzon said when asked if COVID-19 patients will be allowed to cast their voters.

She also explained that voters will also have to fill out a health declaration form before they will be allowed to vote. She also urged the public to be honest about their health condition, or immediately declare their status to their barangays before going to their polling precincts.

Cebu

In Cebu, Provincial Election Supervisor, Atty. Lionel Castillano, said that even before the pandemic, those who are sick in the hospital could not simply just go out and cast their votes.

“So, in the same way, COVID patients should not be allowed to vote whether they are in the hospital or under quarantine. Ang naa sa hospital, dili man gyud na makagawas bisan sa una pa. There is a law nga dapat i-quarantine sila (those who are COVID positive),” Castellano told The Freeman yesterday.

In the absence of a law that would enable registered voters to vote online, voting should be done face-to-face or physical voting even with the pandemic, he said.

To address the limitations brought about by COVID-19, Castillano said the COMELEC en banc is now studying the possibility of extending the time of voting. From 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., it might be extended to 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The COMELEC en banc is also in the process of bidding for additional machines so that voters in the clustered precincts will be reduced from 1,000 voters to 600 to 800 voters.

Castillano pointed out the would-be candidates for the 2022 national and local elections can file his or her Certificate of Candidacy whether he or she is vaccinated or unvaccinated.

“No, it is not a requirement kay that is tantamount to another qualification. Vaccinated or unvaccinated, pwede ra maka-file sa COC,” he said.

Filing of COCs will be from October 1 to 8, 2021, including Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Unlike in the past, this time, only two people can accompany a candidate inside the COMELEC offices while observing the minimum health protocols such as wearing of facemask and face shield. - Philippine Star News Service and Mitchelle Palaubsanon, JMO (FREEMAN)