If scientists fail to come up with a potent vaccine or drug against COVID-19 in the next two years, the Philippines will witness its first national elections that will be extended for a period of two or more days.
Officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) aired this possibility even as they assured members of the House of Representatives that thorough studies are being conducted to ensure that 63 million Filipinos will be safe when they elect a new president, vice president and other government leaders in 2022.
“The idea of holding elections for several days is being carefully studied, “ Comelec Executive Director Bartolome Sinocruz told lawmakers during the Comelec budget defense before the House Committee on Appropriations on Friday.
Quezon Rep. David Suarez, who presided over the hearing, said Comelec should also come up with ideas that will ensure public health and safety during the other aspects of election such as the filing of candidacy and campaign activities.
Responding to Suarez’s suggestion, Sinocruz said the poll body is studying the possibility of doing away with the personal filing of certificates of candidacy.
“There is no prohibition in the law for online filing. In fact, the current law authorizes a representative to file the certificate of candidacy,” explained Sinocruz.
A special committee formed to plan out strategies for an election under COVID-19 threat has proposed the implementation of longer period for filing of candidacy in order to avoid overcrowding.
Personal filing of certificates of candidacy can be done by batches to avoid crowding in Comelec offices, said Sinocruz.
According to the poll official, the forthcoming plebiscite on the proposed division of Palawan province will be conducted in two or three days, instead of the usual one.
“In that way, some precincts will be voting on the first day and some in the second day,. We are looking to implement a similar procedure in the 2022 elections,” said Sinocruz.
“We will hold elections on May 9 (2022) and then another day or two to continue with the elections. This extended voting hours is still being studied by the Law Department (of the Comelec),” Sinocruz told the Lower House.
According to Sinocruz, the seat arrangement inside voting precincts will also be reduced from the usual 12 to a maximum of five.
“I-regulate din natin ang pagpasok ng tao. Magkakaroon ng voters' assistance desk sa labas at bibigyan na ng sequence numbers ang mga botante. (Entry of people will be regulated. There will be voters' assistance desk outside and voters will be given sequence numbers),” he said.