The Manila Times

DoH urges digital voting for Covid-positive voters

RED MENDOZA

THE Department of Health (DoH) has called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to devise other standards of voting for persons who tested positive for Covid-19 such as online or textbased voting for the 2022 national and local elections.

The proposal came after Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas told a House of Representatives budget hearing that Covid-19-positive patients will be given a chance to vote through a special isolation center in every polling place.

But while Comelec is allowed to set its own rules based on guidelines from the DoH and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire warned that allowing a Covid-19-positive patient to vote may lead to a possible superspreader event.

“Alam po natin na ang isang positibong tao, ‘pag lumabas ng kwarto ay maaaring makahawa ng ibang tao (We know that a positive person, once he goes out of his room, may infect other people),” Vergeire said.

She urged the poll body to create alternative ways for Covid-19-positive voters to take part in the elections next year, such as online or digital voting or even SMS (short messaging system) voting.

“Ang DoH ay hindi natin inirerekomenda na ang mga Covid-19-positive patients ay lalabas ng (We cannot recommend those Covid-19 positive patients to go out of their) isolation area to do this kind of activities as this might infect other people,” Vergeire said.

In March, the Comelec said the systems implemented during a plebiscite that was held in Palawan may be implemented in next year’s elections, such as limited number of voters in a voting precinct, strict disinfection and strict enforcement of health protocols such as temperature checks, and submission of health declaration forms.

It also said it is set to extend the hours of voting to allow more people to vote.

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2021-09-18T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-18T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://digitaledition.manilatimes.net/article/281565178894579

The Manila Times