COVID-19 voters, as well as those with misspelled names, will be permitted to vote in the May 9 elections, according to a Commission on Elections official.
Commissioner George Garcia was questioned at the Laging Handa public briefing if COVID-19 patients will be permitted to vote in an isolation polling station, a special area for voters with symptoms.
“Puwede po basta sila ay papayagang makalabas doon sa kung sila ay naka-isolate lalong-lalo na kung sila ay nasa isang isolation facility (They can vote as long as they are allowed to get out of isolation facilities),” Garcia said.
“Of course, hindi namin po, wala po kaming guidelines kung saan ang balota ay dadalhin mismo sa isolation facilities (We have no guidelines where the ballots will be delivered to isolation facilities),” he added.
Garcia added that even if COVID-19 voters are just staying at home and cannot vote, the Comelec has no policy prohibiting them from doing so.
COVID positive voters can still vote – Comelec
“Also possible po na yung mismong kababayan natin na maaaring may COVID-19 ay nasa kanilang bahay-bahay ay doon na lang sila naka-isolate kapag ho ganun, kahit po may COVID, wala naman po sa aming patakaran na hindi sila pabobotohin,” he said.
(It’s also probable that voters with COVID-19 isolated in their homes and those who have COVID-19 will be unable to vote.)
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, Garcia advised voters with symptoms to wear face masks and face shields and be cautious while engaging with others on voting day.
“Lalo pa sa inyong palagay, kung meron na talagang test result na kayo po ay may COVID-19, mas magandang bigyan ninyo ng proteksyon din yung ibang tao na makakasalamuha niyo para maiwasan natin ito po ay kumalat,” he said.
(Especially if you believe you have COVID-19 and have already received a test result, it is preferable to protect the persons you will interact with to prevent the virus from spreading.)
However, the Department of Health (DOH) has recommended COVID-19-positive voters stay at home on Election Day.
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