‘Voting process has been going smoothly’

Despite the enhanced COVID-19 safety protocols that were put in place to provide a level of safety in yesterday’s voting process, Election Day yesterday in Precincts 4C, 5-1, and 5-2 was smooth sailing, with no problems encountered.

In an interview with precincts 5-1 and 5-2 poll supervisor Barbara Iglesias, she said this year’s election season has been different compared to previous elections because the line of voters continuously flowed and there were no crowds. That could also be because many took advantage of the early voting that began last Oct. 13, reducing the number of people crowding the polling sites.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commonwealth Election Commission hired some people to not only work at the polls but to also check-in voters before they enter the polling sites to vote. The check-in process included checking the voters’ temperature and collecting their names and contact numbers before they headed in to cast their votes. Iglesias said they followed social distancing rules and made sure that the voters followed the rule as well.

Those who felt sick were still able to vote, although they were made to vote at the curbside and then drop their votes into the ballot boxes.

Iglesias and her team at Precincts 5-1 and 5-2 have not run into any problems thus far. She added that even with early voting, it’s been smooth as can be and everyone has been respectful.

Iglesias has been a poll supervisor for three years now, and one difference that she’s seen is that the CEC hired people this time not only for the election process itself but also with enforcing social distancing rules and checking of temperatures.

Iglesias stated that the early voting helped a lot as well because they saw little crowds this election yea. CEC also supplied the team with masks and T-shirts that show what their positions were.

As of 12pm yesterday, the Kagman Community Center had 11 voters at 8am, 22 voters at 9am, 35 voters at 10am, 34 voters at 11am, and 28 voters at 12pm, for a total of 130 voters for the first half of the day.

As for Precinct 4C, poll supervisor May Salas said that it has been “very interesting and exciting” experience as it was her first time to be a poll supervisor. She added that voters have also been compliant with all COVID-19 rules.

Salas said that there has been no curbside voting for the first half of the day. Just like Iglesias, voting in Precinct 4C has been smooth, with no run-ins with problems. The COVID-19 protocols made this process new for many voters but it did not interfere with the voting process.

As of 12pm yesterday, the Legislature had 14 voters at 8am, 25 voters at 9am, 10 voters at 10am, 12 voters at 11am, and 17 voters at 12pm for a total of 78 voters for the first half of the day.