2022 ELECTIONS | Comelec urges Filipinos to ‘participate in democracy’ despite COVID-19 crisis

May 11, 2021 , 03:26 PM

(May 11, 2021) – With the 2022 elections just a year away, the Commission of Election (Comelec) called on the public to be aware of the changes come Election Day brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez noted they have been looking into ways to ensure the safety of voters in next year’s much-anticipated polls.

“Kung aware tayo na iba na ang takbo, sitwasyon na hinaharap natin, magiging mas maingat tayo. Ngayon pa lang dapat alam na ng publiko na iba ‘yung sistemang haharapin natin sa 2022,” said Jimenez in an interview with One PH’s Sa Totoo Lang.

Comelec has assured that the 2022 elections will continue and will be a safe one despite the incessant threats of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To follow social distancing protocols, Jimenez said only one person per precinct will be allowed to vote at a time, which could lead to the extension of the voting period from the usual eight hours to 12 hours.

Jimenez added guidelines are being planned for those who may be showing symptoms of COVID-19 during Election Day but clarified that voters will not be required to show a negative swab test result.

“Meron kaming health screening. Kapag ikaw ay medyo questionable ang health status, ikaw ay ida-divert sa isolation polling precinct na may sariling makina at mas matindi ang COVID security,” said Jimenez. “Kasi ‘di natin sila puwedeng bawalang bumoto just because may symptoms sila.”

Despite the changes in the campaigning landscape due to the COVID-19 crisis, Jimenez said in-person campaigning will still be allowed. He, however, said online campaigning will be a large factor as the power of social media has truly become extensive.

Along with this, Jimenez said in-person debates will be unlikely as they are looking at blended or hybrid formats for the usual miting de avances and other campaign sorties.

“‘Yung mga kandidato, it will be safer for them if they’ll be at home. Mas kumportable din sila. May challenges ‘yung ganitong format but then again kung creative ka, puwede rin namang gawing magandag maganda ang virtual debates,” suggested Jimenez.

He added they are still focused on voter registration as there are now 3.6 million new voters, still less than two million away from Comelec’s goal of 5.5 million. As of latest data from Comelec, the country has a total of 58 million voters.

With everything that’s happening in the country amid the debilitating COVID-19 crisis, Jimenez stressed the importance of exercising the right to vote for the 2022 elections.

“Maraming nagsasabi na ayaw nila sumali kasi politika na naman ‘yan. Medyo nakakapanghina kasi if ever (there’s a time) you need to participate in a democracy, it’s now during a pandemic,” said Jimenez.

The deadline for voter registration is on September 30, 2021.

(Kiko Demigillo/PM)

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