COVID-19 positive registered voters can vote in 2022 polls — Comelec

A voter places her ballot in a PCOS machine after voting at precinct 169 of San Antonio High School in Makati City.
INQUIRER file photo / ARNOLD ALMACEN

MANILA, Philippines — Registered voters who are positive for COVID-19 can vote in the coming 2022 elections, the chairman at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Friday.

During a House hearing on the proposed 2022 budget of the Comelec, Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe asked Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas if COVID-positive registered voters can vote at the elections next year.

“If a registered voter is tested positive of COVID, can that voter vote in the upcoming May 9 national and local elections? Pwede ba bomoto ang isang confirmed positive registered voter (Can a confirmed positive registered voter still vote)?”

In response, Abas said COVID-positive voters can still exercise their right to vote in “isolation centers.”

“Oo naman po. Pwede pong silang bomoto. Gagawan po namin ng paraan na magkaroon ng parang isolation center sa bawat polling center, so ihihiwalay po natin sila just in case they will be confirmed and then doon natin sila pabobotohin sa isolation center,” Abas said.

(Yes, of course. They can vote. We will make a way to set up isolation centers in each polling center, so they will be separated from other voters and they will be able to vote in isolation centers.)

However, poll servers will not be allowed to go to polling precincts if are positive for coronavirus on election day, according to the Comelec chief.

Abas said the Comelec is coordinating with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to finalize safety guidelines for the elections.

Abas made these remarks as the country records over 20,000 single-daily increases in COVID-19 cases due to the highly contagious Delta variant. As of Thursday, the Philippines has 166,672 active COVID-19 cases.

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