“New Normal” Elections: The Step-by-Step guide on how to vote for the May 2022 Polls

Every six years, the Philippines holds the presidential elections as part of the triennial National elections every second Monday of May. Since the six-year term of the incumbent President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is eclipsing to a close, it is the time of the year to choose our new captain of the national future.

But in the high time of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, is voting for the upcoming 2022 national elections still safe? How can first-time voters be guided in this “new normal” elections?

The Commission on Elections has laid out guidelines for voters in the upcoming May 2022 National Polls for its safe conduct.

STEP 1: TEMPERATURE CHECK

Voters must submit themselves to a temperature check before entering the venue. Those with a body temperature of 37.4°C will be allowed to enter the venue, meanwhile those who have a body temperature of 37.5°C and up, will be asked to rest for awhile. If the temperature goes down, they will be allowed to enter, however if the temperature continues to be high, they will be put into an isolated polling precinct to avoid potentially exposing other voters.

STEP 2: IDENTIFICATION

Given that voters pass the temperature check, they will then proceed to the voter’s assistance desk, give the necessary information such as their names with proper identification and then they will be directed to their respective precincts and be given their sequence number.

STEP 3: GETTING THE BALLOT

Voters must find their names on printed lists outside their polling precinct, approach any member of the electoral board or its support staff and state their names and identification and perhaps other additional details that will be asked. They must not accept ballots with tears, marks, or shades. Voters need to inspect their ballot carefully at the desk of electoral board because after leaving, any marks found will be presumed to be theirs.

STEP 4: FILLING UP THE BALLOT

Voters will shade the designated oval beside the name of the candidate of their choice. Please be guided on the number of candidates to vote:

• President – Vote for a maximum of 1 candidate
• Vice president – Vote for a maximum of 1 candidate
• Senator – Vote for a maximum of 12 candidates
• House of Representatives – Vote for a maximum of 1 candidate
• Governor – Vote for a maximum of 1 candidate
• Vice governor – Vote for a maximum of 1 candidate
• Board member – The number of seats per district varies.
• Mayor – Vote for a maximum of 1 candidate
• Vice mayor – Vote for a maximum of 1 candidate
• Councilor – The number of seats per municipality or city or district varies.
• Party-list – Vote for a maximum of 1 group

A voter may undervote or abstain from choosing a specific candidate to vote for a specific position. The COMELEC will provide marking pens for shading. Voters must refrain from placing extra markings on the ballots and fully shade the entire oval beside a candidate’s name to make sure it is counted by the vote counting machine (VCM). The voters must not make an x-mark, check, or half-shade.

Voters must NOT take pictures of ballots as this is an election offense.

STEP 5: CASTING THE BALLOT

After having completed voting for desired candidates, voters must bring ballots to the Vote Counting Machine (VCM) and wait for the machine to process the ballot, once done, a poll clerk will mark the voter’s finger with indelible ink and will give the voting receipt to review.

Remember that voters must check the voting receipt to see if it correctly reflects who was voted for, then ballots are to be placed in the designated box. If the receipt does not match those who were voted for, voters must bring the receipt to the board of election inspectors to register a complaint. This will then be put on record.

Credible and reliable information about the running candidates is available on various websites online such as www.votepilipinas.com.

Your votes matter. But most importantly, voting must be preceded by logical and critical thinking and sound discernment.

In this upcoming 2022 National Election Polls, exercise your right to vote, not only for yourself, but also for your friends, your family, and your country. (Ivan Klar Braga – ADDU Intern)