Comelec eyes imposing one voter at a time inside polling place in 2022 elections

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez. INQUIRER.net file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking into having one voter at a time inside the polling center as the country still struggles to fight off COVID-19.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, during a forum of the House Committee on People’s Participation, said the one-voter-per-polling-place scenario is just one of the “range of possibilities” the poll body is looking into.

“One voter at a time,” he said. “This is the most extreme option being discussed.”

“There will be a lot of room to amend this position, but in general the idea will be to limit the number of people inside the polling place at any one time,” he added.

This is contrary to previous elections when the poll body allowed up to 10 voters in one polling place at the same time.

While the proposal allows only for one voter, there would still be five people inside the polling place.

“The number would be brought down to five people. Notice that I said five people, not five voters,” he said, noting that the five voters include three members of the election board, one watcher, and one voter.

Due to the reduced capacity of the precinct, 12-hour voting hours will be “the most likely scenario” the poll body is also looking into, according to Jimenez.

The time of election could be extended from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 9, according to Jimenez.

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JPV