The use of the proposed “hybrid” system for the 2022 national and local elections is now unlikely due to time constraints, according to the Commission on Election (Comelec).
In a radio interview on Sunday, Comelec Commissioner Rowena V. Guanzon said the proposed scheme, where voting and counting will be done manually, while transmission and canvassing will be automated, is not feasible in the next polls since its implementation will take a longer time than the current system they are using.
Currently, all of the said processing of votes are automated under the Automatic Election System (AES) being used by the poll body.
“Counting alone [using hybrid system] may take 3 days. For president, it may even take one month. Our teachers will be at the losing end as they may get shot at, receive threats, or get Covid-19 (novel coronavirus disease). We have to protect them also,” Guanzon said.
However, she said Comelec could consider the proposed hybrid system after the 2022 polls.
The poll official issued the statement in response to the bill filed by the members of the Makabayan bloc in Congress for the use of a hybrid election in 2022.
Comelec is anticipating the threat of Covid-19 will persist up to the 2022 elections, which will require them to continue imposing minimum health standards.
To ensure social distancing will be strictly observed in voting precincts next year, Comelec is considering extending the voting period from 12 hours to 16 hours or even up to three days.