The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ruled that votes for candidates whose certificates of candidacy have been cancelled by final judgment will be tallied as stray votes. This decision stems from a denial of a motion for reconsideration filed by the Moro Ako Party and Anwar Salipada Alamada, concerning their registration. Essentially, even if a candidate receives votes after being disqualified, those votes won’t be attributed to them. Comelec clarified this applies to final judgments rendering a candidacy invalid. The ruling aims to uphold the integrity of the election process by ensuring votes are not credited to individuals no longer eligible to hold office. This ruling clarifies how votes are handled in instances of post-candidacy disqualification, impacting future election scenarios. The decision emphasizes adherence to legal processes and the finality of court rulings.