THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers criticized the Commission on Elections for demoting electoral board chairpersons who tested positive for Covid19 in antigen tests administered prior to the orientation and training for Board of Election Inspectors.

Reports on the demotion came from Regions 6, 8, 9, and CAR.

“Prematurely substituting BEI Chairpersons on the basis of a positive antigen test result during trainings, when they have enough time to recuperate and while we don’t know who among the electoral board members will test positive on election day, does nothing to secure the safe conduct of the 2022 polls. It only serves to punish poll workers for getting infected,” Raymond Basilio, the group’s secretary general, said.

“We’re still 39 days away from the May 9 polls; as such, even if BEI chairpersons test positive now, they’ll have ample time to recover and complete the 14-day isolation,”

he added.

The group said that the Comelec should test BEIs and other poll workers in precincts on election day.

“We find this to be a more crucial measure to protect not only our poll workers but the 65.8-million voters they will be serving,” Basilio said.

Instead of demoting BEI heads, ACT said that the Comelec provide medical support to all poll workers who test positive during pre-election trainings and schedule special training sessions for them as soon as they recover. It should also train all three electoral board members for the tasks of chairperson, poll clerk, and third member and test poll workers for Covid19 on election day.

“These three steps will substantially reduce the chances of a Covid19 breakout and address unprecedented infections on election day, while also ensuring support for our BEIs. Safety and welfare measures for elections need not come at the expense of BEIs,” Basilio said.