Comelec to allow registrants with incomplete, corrupted biometrics data to vote

The Commission on Elections will allow registrants with incomplete or corrupted biometrics data to vote in next year's elections.

The move is aimed to minimize voters that will be disenfranchised, according to Comelec spokesman James Jimenez.

"Huwag natin parusahan yung may incomplete, lalo na yung mga tao na may record naman na nasira pero hindi nila kasalanan. So hayaan natin sila bumoto," he said in a press briefing.

The poll body issued Resolution No. 10013, which provides that registration records of voters with incomplete biometrics data and those with corrupted biometrics data in the database shall not be deactivated and be allowed to vote in the May 2016 elections.

"Ihihiwalay na natin ngayon yung bilang ng mga tao na walang biometrics at doon sa bilang ng tao na merong incomplete biometrics at doon sa mga taong may biometrics sana pero na corrupt sa database... hindi sila ide-deactivate. They will be allowed to vote in the May 2016 polls," he added.

Jimenez noted that those that will be allowed to vote despite not having complete biometrics data will be asked to complete their records, but did not give an specific date.

Under the "Mandatory Biometrics Voter Registration Act," the poll body is authorized to deactivate registration records of voters, who will fail to submit for validation, on or before the last day of filing of application for registration for purposes of the May 2016 polls.

Section 8 of the act states that registration records of voters without biometrics data will be deactivated. —JST, GMA News