Lawyer urges Comelec to suspend online precinct finder amid disenfranchisement fears

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to suspend its online Precinct Finder due to concerns of "massive disenfranchisement".

Macalintal cited numerous complaints from registered voters unable to find their names or whose voter status was deactivated, worrying about the potential impact on first-time and newly registered voters.

However, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia stated the online Precinct Finder is not the final basis to determine a voter's registration status.

Garcia assured voters not to worry, as the precinct finder is just one of many ways to check registration status, with the voter's information sheet being the most accurate basis.

He also mentioned that Comelec is hiring emergency workers to distribute the voter information sheets before the May 9 polls.

Garcia also said voters who saw in the precinct finder that their polling place is not the same from the previous elections need not worry.