MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) maintains that there is no law that requires a person to get vaccinated first before he or she can vote in the May 2022 national and local elections.
According to Comelec Deputy Executive Director for Operations Atty. Teofisto Elnas, a voter will not be asked to present his vaccination card come election day.
“Lalo na ina-anticipate natin na on election day na meron at meron pang walang vaccination or yung mga taong hindi nagpa-vaccine for whaterver reason makakaboto pa rin sila and they are not to present ‘yong vaccination card,” Elnas said.
Comelec spokesperson Director James Jimenez, meanwhile, said there is no alternative way for a confirmed COVID-19 positive patient or those in an isolation facility to vote during the elections.
“Paano naman ‘yong may mga sakit din? May pneumonia, may cancer? Hindi naman sila makakaboto. So if you’re sick, we recommend that you stay for treatment or if you are contagious, stay away from people. I think that’s, shall we say, fair,” Jimenez said.
The poll body, however, said that they are willing to extend the voting hours so that more voters will be given the opportunity to cast their votes.
“Just in case at the end of the voting hours meron at meron pa ring mga botante na nakapila or mga botante within the voting center, uubusin yan hanggang matapos yan. Tatapusin yan. So, in effect mag-i-extend tayo ng voting hours natin,” Elnas said.
Comelec reminds voters that wearing face masks and face shields will be strictly implemented on election day.
Voter registration is still ongoing until October 30.
As of September 30, Comelec has recorded 63 million registered voters. —/mbmf (from the report of UNTV Correspondent Dante Amento)
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