Comelec eyes ‘isolated polling place’ for voters with high body temperature

POLLING AMID PANDEMIC Residents of Barangay Panacan Uno in Palawan went out to cast their vote despite the rain and the raging pandemic. —ROMAR MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking at setting up an “isolated polling place” to allow individuals with high body temperatures to vote in the 2022 national elections.

Comelec Commissioner Antonio Kho Jr. on Friday said this was used during the Palawan plebiscite conducted in March and they are looking to adopt it for the 2022 polls.

Voters who registered a body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius and above will be brought to a separate place for them to vote.

“Kung talagang mataas ang kanyang temperature lagpas ng 37 degrees, hindi siya papuntahin sa kanyan presinto. Mayroon kaming special precinct, ang tinatawag na isolated polling place, doon siya boboto,” he said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

(If his or her body temperature is really high, he or she will not be allowed to go to his or her precinct, but instead will be brought to the isolated polling place.)

“Para lang hindi siya makahalo sa ibang tao but we will also give him or her the right to vote,” he added.

(This is so he or she will not interact with other people and he or she will be give the right to vote.)

Kho said the polling body is looking to implement other measures done in the Palawan plebiscite in the 2022 polls, including strict compliance with minimum public health standards and installing sanitation stations.

He dubbed the Palawan plebiscite as “successful” because of the high voter turnout and hoped to replicate the results in the 2022 elections.

“If Comelec will be able to implement safe and COVID-free measures sa plebiscite, people will come and troop to the polls,” he said.

The Comelec is also looking to extend voting hours and limit voters in precincts to prevent overcrowding.

EDV