Rules on Voting in the New Normal

Around 60 million people are expected to vote in the upcoming Philippine elections. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, we can also expect some changes in the voting process. What are the rules and protocols for voting in the “new normal”? Keep on reading to find out!

“New Normal” Election Manual

Recently, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) released a draft of the 250-page “new normal” manual, which provides guidelines for activities to be done before, during, and after the elections. In this article, we will focus on the rules for election day itself. In particular, we will discuss protocols related to physical distancing, voting hours, and public safety.

Physical Distancing

Ever since the pandemic hit, health authorities have put emphasis on social or physical distancing, especially during gatherings in indoor spaces. The same shall be applied to the upcoming elections.

On election day, the number of voters inside a polling precinct will be limited at any given time. Meanwhile, COVID-19 “marshalls” will be assigned to remind everyone to observe proper social distancing, as part of essential health measures.

Extension of Voting Hours

Before the pandemic, voting hours were typically held from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm during national and local elections, and from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm during midterm elections. Now, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, voting hours will be from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm, which is 1-2 hours longer than the previous elections.

In addition, there will be a “30-meter rule” as well. This means that if there are still voters outside the polling precinct at 7:00 pm, those who are located “within 30 meters” of the polling place will be allowed to vote. The voting hours can be extended for 2-3 hours, or until all the people within the said location have finished casting their votes.

Public Health and Safety

Are you wondering what it would be like to vote in the upcoming elections? The COMELEC recently conducted a “voting day simulation” to examine the actual, real-time process -- in line with the latest health and safety protocols.

During the simulation, the following measures were observed:

Upon entering the polling place, all participants were required to wear face masks and face shields.

Each participant’s body temperature was taken to make sure that they don’t have fever or any COVID-19 symptoms.

For those who exhibit symptoms, an isolation polling place (IPP) was designated.

If the person in the IPP still wants to cast his/her vote despite having symptoms, health officers and staff will assist him/her.

The Bottom Line

As of this writing, the “new normal” election manual has yet to be officially finalized and released. Nevertheless, as the next election day draws near, we can expect to learn more about the latest rules and protocols pertaining to the voting process.

The Department of Health (DOH), the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), and other government authorities are bound to make announcements that would affect the upcoming elections. For now, we can always visit the official website of COMELEC at https://comelec.gov.ph/ for the latest updates.