THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) made special mention of “Maritess,” whom the poll body said will not be allowed inside polling centers.
Comelec Commissioner Atty. George Erwin Garcia said that the “Maritess,” a street-slang term for gossipers, who have already voted will not be allowed to loiter in the polling center to look for fellow gossipers.
According to Garcia, after voting, voters should immediately leave and go home to help lower the number of people present in the polling center.
The voting public should be reminded, says Garcia, that the country is still in a COVID-19 pandemic and it would be dangerous to loiter around in crowded places such as polling centers.
There are two things that may happen, he said, for anyone who would insist to stay and gossip in polling places: they will spread the virus for they can already be positive of COVID-19, or they can contract the virus due to exposure in crowded areas.
Also, Garcia urged mothers who are voters not to bring their child or children to the polling place so as not to put them in harm’s way due to the threat of COVID-19.