National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) Chief Piero Corvetto affirmed that the increase in new COVID-19 cases will not change the date of general elections scheduled for April 11, 2021, adding that comparative experience shows that elections can be held during the pandemic.
According to the electoral office's head, countries like Chile, Bolivia, the United States, Uruguay, South Korea, and the Dominican Republic have held elections during the pandemic.
He went on to say that several action lines will be coordinated to guarantee safe elections, such as prevention protocols and the decentralization of polling stations, whose number has gone from 5,300 to almost 20,000.
As part of these action lines, Corvetto also stated that ONPE recommends staggering voting hours based on the last digit of citizens' ID card.
For example, it proposes that the elderly, pregnant women, and people with comorbidities should vote between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.
"50% of electors will vote between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Almost 12 million people will be at voting stations, on the streets, at bus stops, and buses. We want to organize good elections, take care of people's health, and reduce
the number of infections," he pointed out.
Native languages
In addition, Corvetto disclosed that ONPE will prepare Quechua-Spanish and Aymara-Spanish electoral training materials for this electoral process, as part of its policy for getting closer to citizens.
(END) FHG/CVC/RMB/MVB
Published: 1/12/2021