DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Feb. 17 (PIA) --The Commission on Elections (Comelec) here has listed 932,039 registered voters in the province for the May 2022 polls.

However, Election Officer Jason Orbeta of Comelec clarified that this number could still include those who have died due to COVID-19.

In a Kapihan sa PIA forum, Orbeta said the Local Civil Registrar should have provided a certified list of deceased persons or a family member to give the copy of death certificate to Comelec for delisting.

Orbeta said the Comelec should have purged the names from the voters’ list of those who have passed away or failed to vote in two successive regular elections.

The delisting of deceased voters aims to prevent other people from assuming their identities and casting votes in their names.

The election officer also cited the additional voting procedures for this year’s poll, such as the health evaluation before a voter can enter the polling place to ensure the safety of voters from infections.

Under Comelec Resolution 10730, preventive measures and health protocols against COVID-19 include temperature check, wearing of mask, physical distancing, disinfection of hands, and visual screening to see if the voter exhibits COVID-19 symptoms.

Voters with symptoms would be directed to an isolation polling precinct (IPP) where they could still vote, Orbeta said.

The voting process is still the same: first, secure precinct number, go to assigned room, fill out the ballot, feed the ballot to the VCM, check the voter’s receipt and then deposit it in the receptacle, and then the right forefinger nail is stained with indelible ink. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from Jakarta Requiron, NORSU Intern)