Those positive for Covid-19 may vote with special permits under specific guideline
5 ފެބުރުއަރީ 2021 | ހުކުރު 09:30EC is required to facilitate access to the voting station for those positive for Covid-19, and those identified as direct contacts of positive cases
Those with Covid-19 and those identified as direct contacts of positive cases must use a separate vehicle to travel to and from voting stations
A regulation has been made public detailing that the Elections Commission (EC) must facilitate access to voting stations in the Local Council and WDC elections for those who are positive for Covid-19, in addition to those placed under quarantine as direct contacts of positive cases.
Under article 10 of special regulations that detail voting procedure for the Local Council and WDC elections scheduled for 10 April this year, the EC is tasked with facilitating access to voting stations for those who are positive for Covid-19, in addition to those in quarantine as direct contacts of positive cases.
Subsection A of Article 10 of the regulation goes on to state that those in quarantine must be allowed the opportunity to vote on the island they are observing quarantine in at the time of the vote. Further, Subsection B states that those who are positive for Covid-19 will also be afforded the right to vote, under the conditions that they arrive at the voting station in a separate vehicle and do not go on to mingle with others or engage with crowds. This positive for Covid-19 must receive a permit from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) before entering the voting station, or must do so after consulting relevant authorities. Subsection C of Article 10 for the special Local Council and WDC elections vote regulations states that the Elections Commission must provide either a separate voting station or separate voting time for those who are voting while positive for Covid-19 or observing quarantine.
Additionally, Subsection A of Article 11 of the regulation, which details voting procedure for those who have been isolated or quarantined due to exposure to Covid-19, states that such persons must only enter the voting station as per the directive of the Elections Commission. Subsection B of Article 11 goes on to detail that those voting in the elections while positive for Covid-19 must be masked, while maintaining a distance of at least 3 feet from others at all times. They are also required to use sanitizers to clean their hands while present at the voting center under the regulation.
Subsection C of Article 11 of the special voter regulation for the Local Council and WDC elections further states that those identified as direct contacts who are attending the voting station must also be masked at all times, in addition to maintaining a distance of at least 3 feet from others at all times and sanitizing their hands periodically. Direct contacts of positive cases are not permitted to use public transport such as busses, ferries or taxis in arriving at the voting station. Subsection D of Article 11 of the regulation goes on to detail that those direct contacts of positive Covid-19 cases who are experiencing flu-like symptoms (sore throat, cough, fever, breathing difficulties, body pains, inability to register taste/smell) to take precautionary measures when exercising their right to vote. These precautions include effective masking, maintaining a distance of at least 3 feet from others, periodically using hand sanitizers and avoiding public transport when travelling to and from the voting station.
