Infected people will be able to vote despite Government doubts

BarcelonaSome 450 people in Galicia and some 200 in the Basque Country were deprived of their fundamental right to vote, as set out in Article 23 of the Constitution. Knowing that the Catalan legislature was practically exhausted - not because of deadlines, but because of the open conflict between the two partners in government - the Generalitat stressed from the outset that, when the time came, everyone's right to vote would be guaranteed in Catalonia. Despite the fact that the Basque and Galician elections were held on 12 July and the Catalan political forces had five months to try, nobody presented any initiative for legal reform to encourage the absentee vote. And so the 14-F gets closer, with a high number of infected people and close contacts that, according to the Ombudsman's calculation and the Government's endorsement, could be close to 200,000 people on election day.

The General Directorate of Electoral Processes has been working to define the protocol that will allow those who are infected to vote as well, minimizing the risk to public health that this entails. The current plan allows everyone who is in quarantine to leave their homes on February 14 to go to the polling station. They can do so at any time of the day, despite the fact that the Generalitat asks them to do so at the last minute, between 7 pm and 8 pm (the recommended time for the elderly is from 9 am to 12 noon). During that hour, all members of the polling station will have to wear the integral protection equipment that will be provided to them.

The question therefore seems to be operationally resolved, but it raises many doubts. The Generalitat has also contributed to it this very week. In the allegations to the High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC), the lawyer of the Government indicates in a paragraph that by protecting the right to vote of the plaintiffs (the party 'Izquierda en Positivo' and Josep Asensio, a private citizen) the right to vote of infected people will be put at risk. "This Court has to assess that in order to protect the right of participation of the appellant on February 14, there is a serious risk of infringing the same right of thousands of people who, because they are in lockdown for being covid-19 positive or because they have been in contact with someone who came out as positive, will not be able to exercise their right to vote on that date".

Obligatory to go to the polling station

Sources of the Foreign Affairs Ministry consulted by the ARA assure that the protocol has not changed despite the allegations and that, if there are elections, on 14-F there will be no restrictions for anyone. Just yesterday, the plan to vote in three weeks' time - still pending the last decision of the High Court of Justice - was reaffirmed at a meeting of the party committee, in which the government promised to test all members of the polling stations for antigens. They will not be vaccinated, but the government guarantees that the polling stations will be "safe spaces". Everyone will be provided with masks, a face shield, hydro-alcoholic gel and personal protective equipment.

The Government's reports foresee that there will be stations that will not be set up because of fear. Yesterday, the government recalled that it is "obligatory" to attend the polling stations at 8 a.m. if one has been selected to count votes. Those who do not do so may face a fine or even a prison sentence. And the Generalitat sees a risk of further contagion from that day on.