Tuguegarao City, Cagayan – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced on Monday, Nov 29, that it will be limiting the number of voters per batch in poll centers for the upcoming May 2022 national and local elections.
Comelec added that a maximum of 10 voters will be permitted inside their precincts while poll areas with bigger spaces will accommodate more voters but to a certain degree provided that social distancing as well as health protocols will be followed.
The poll body has also mentioned that ‘holding areas’ will also be prepared for voters awaiting their turn to vote to maximize social distancing and space.
On Monday, the poll body has released its safety measures against COVID-19 in a National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL)’s forum for stakeholders.
The health and safety protocols announced by Comelec include temperature checking, separate entrance and exit for each voting centers, mandatory wearing of face masks and face shields, one-meter social distancing, availability of sanitation stations, frequent disinfection of hands and regularly touched surfaces, proper cough and sneezing etiquette, IPP and health station within the voting centers, a strategically placed voter’s assistance desk, holding areas near polling places, posing of layout of the voting center, proper display of directional and information signages, proper safety arrangement of chairs and tables, and installation of plastic barriers between the election board and voters. TNF