MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is eyeing to extend the voting hours for the May 9, 2022 national elections to avoid overcrowding.
This would prevent the voting from becoming a super spreader event for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), said Commissioner Antonio Kho Jr.
The poll body is mulling an additional two to three hours of voting extension.
“Comelec has the power naman under election laws to extend voting hours. Almost sure na ‘yan that it will be extended,” said Kho said in a virtual forum hosted by the Ateneo School of Government on Monday.
In this time of pandemic, “eight hours won’t cut it,” according to Kho.
The voting “could run (from) 10 (hours) or even 12 hours, depending on the capacity of the teachers serving as Board of Election Inspectors,” he added.
From 1,000 votes per precinct in the 2019 midterm elections, according to Kho, the Comelec is also looking at reverting to 2016 level of voters to precinct ratio of 800 per precinct to ensure minimum public health standards.
Kho, however, ruled out the possibility of the elections going beyond one day since its legality could be questioned.
Extended voting days were not an option under election laws, he stressed.
“’Yung two days or three days na election, baka kailangan natin kasi ng approval ng Congress. We need legislation for that but so far, walang action from the House or the Senate to extend it,” Kho said.
“Marami ring nagsasabi Comelec can do it on its own because we have the power to administer elections. But it’s a risk too high to take. Baka later on suddenly umakyat sa Supreme Court ‘yan. Sabihin ng SC hindi pwede, patay na lahat ‘yan,” he added.
Kho further said there is no reason to postpone the 2022 elections even amid the coronavirus pandemic as the Comelec is planning the polls on a scenario that herd immunity against COVID-19 is not yet reached.
“There is no reason to postpone the elections. I would like to assure everyone that Comelec is prepared to deliver an honest, free and safe elections come 2022. Tuloy tayo sa 2022 elections,” Kho said.
Based on Comelec records, there are at least 61 million registered voters for the 2022 polls. The last day for voters’ registration is on Sept. 30./PN
