Covid-positive voters who are in a queue at polling precincts are allowed to cast their vote on Election Day, May 9, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Sunday, May 1.

Poll Commissioner George Erwin M. Garcia said symptomatic voters will still be able to cast their votes as Comelec has prepared isolation polling precincts wherein they could cast their vote.

“Kahit na positive puwedeng bumoto sapagkat mayroon naman tayong mga isolation polling precinct na tinatawag and therefore sila ay dadalhin doon (Voters can still cast their vote even if they’re positive for Covid-19 as we have isolation polling precincts for them, and therefore they will be brought there),” he said during the Balitaan sa Maynila online forum.

“May mga naka-PPE (personal protective equipment) po tayo na staff na nandoon at ang mga balota ay mismong dadalhin sa kanila (Our staff manning that are all wearing PPEs and they will bring the ballots to them),” he added.

When it comes to voters who are still in quarantine on May 9, Garcia said the Comelec has no power to compel Covid-19 isolation facilities to let them out for them to practice their right to suffrage.

But, should a Covid-positive patient sneaks out of an isolation facility and was able to queue at the polling precinct, Garcia said he/she will be allowed by the Comelec to vote.

“Basta iyan po ay pumila positive o ano man ang nararamdaman, may sintomas man o wala, sila ay pabobotohin natin. Kahit pa po ang temperature ay 37.5 pataas, sila pa rin po ay pabobotohin pa rin natin sila (As long as he/she is queueing, whatever he/she is feeling, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, he/she will be allowed to vote. Even his/her temperature is above 37.5, we will still allow him/her to vote),” the poll commissioner said.

“Basta po nakapila sa presinto ay makakaboto po sila (As long as they are queueing at the polling precinct, they will be allowed to cast their vote),” Garcia stressed.

Covid-19 superspreader event?

Garcia admitted that there is a possibility that the elections may be a Covid-19 superspreader event.

“Constitutional right iyan na nakalagay sa saligang batas (Voting is a constitutional right in Constitution),” he pointed out.

As such, he noted that the country currently has no law prohibiting Covid-positive voters from casting their votes on Election Day, May 9.

The poll commissioner said they are closely coordinating with key agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure the health and safety of the public during the elections.

He even noted that the poll body has created the New Normal Committee to ensure that health and safety protocols are being strictly followed during the conduct of the polls, especially over 67 million voters are expected to cast their votes on Election Day.

RT-PCR, vaccination card, face shield

Garcia also said that RT-PCR test results are not being required by the Comelec.

“Wala po tayo RT-PCR result na kukuhain na result or test (We are not requiring or will ask for any RT-PCR result or test to voters),” Garcia said.

The poll commissioner said requiring voters to submit RT-PCR results is not in Comelec’s guidelines, saying that requiring such is unconstitutional.

On April 30, Garcia clarified that voters are not required to bring their vaccination cards and face shields at polling precincts.

“The only need to wear a face mask,” he said.