MANILA – Registered voters who are positive for COVID-19 can vote in the coming 2022 elections, the chairman at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Friday.
During a House hearing on the proposed 2022 budget of the Comelec, Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe asked Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas if COVID-positive registered voters can vote at the elections next year.
“If a registered voter is tested positive of COVID, can that voter vote in the upcoming May 9 national and local elections? Pwede ba bomoto ang isang confirmed positive registered voter?” he asked.
In response, Abas said COVID-positive voters can still exercise their right to vote in “isolation centers” located at the polling area.
“Oo naman po. Pwede pong silang bomoto. Gagawan po namin ng paraan na magkaroon ng parang isolation center sa bawat polling center, so ihihiwalay po natin sila just in case they will be confirmed and then doon natin sila pabobotohin sa isolation center,” Abas said.
Abas made the remark as the country records over 20,000 single-daily increases in COVID-19 cases due to the highly contagious Delta variant. As of Thursday, the Philippines has 166,672 active COVID-19 cases.(©Philippine Daily Inquirer 2021)
