Many citizens are concerned about the conduct of the country’s first election in a pandemic, in addition to the turnout in the 2022 Philippine general election.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) test-run on Oct. 23 did little to assuage fears that the general election, which is expected to draw a record turnout of voters choosing candidates for executive positions ranging from national to local, will not become a super spreader of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
The Comelec conducted a test election about six months before the regular election on May 9, 2022, using pandemic protocols developed by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to control the virus’s spread.
The Comelec tapped 4,235 test voters in four polling precincts, or about 1,059 people per precinct, during an election simulation on Oct. 23 at San Juan Elementary School in the National Capital Region.
The Comelec’s election regulations set a limit of 800 voters per precinct as the “optimal” number. During the elections itself, which begin at 8 a.m. There may be more voters than the estimated amount of 1,059 voters per precinct when polls close at 4 p.m.
The difficulties of keeping a safe distance and disinfecting surfaces at the country’s public schools, which will host the elections, is causing concern. The classrooms are small and difficult to use not only as polling stations, but also as holding places for persons waiting to vote.
Corridors and halls at schools were intended to make the most of restricted space. There isn’t enough space or appropriate ventilation to make these facilities safe for a large number of people to utilize at once during a pandemic.
Covid-19 marshalls were used in the Comelec simulation on Oct. 23 to enforce distance and other procedures. This means that more people will be crammed into the already limited area available to voters.
Will the personnel and resources be available to “routinely clean” public spaces? This is yet another Comelec election protocol that may or may not be applicable.
But, Comelec says health protocol violations are election offenses.
According to the Commission on Elections, violations of COVID-19 health protocols during campaign activities are deemed electoral offenses (Comelec). In its campaign guidelines for the May 9, 2022 elections, the Comelec has added the health protocols required by the Cabinet policymaking body on COVID-19 response.
It is illegal for any candidate, political party, or individual to give or accept free “transport, food, and drinks, or anything of value” during campaign meetings, according to Comelec Resolution No. 10730.
“It shall likewise be unlawful for any candidate, party or any person to act in a manner that violates the minimum health and safety protocols and other applicable guidelines prescribed by the Comelec and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases,” the poll body said.
Within 24 hours of any “in-person campaign action,” candidates and political parties must present a notarized “affidavit of compliance with health protocols” to the nearest Comelec office.
Failure to submit the required affidavit is penalized under Republic Act No. 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, according to the Comelec.
