Goa's Electoral Office Issues Direct Warning to Portuguese Passport Holders
The Chief Electoral Officer's office in Goa has issued a clear directive. It targets individuals holding Portuguese passports. These people must now fill out Form 7. The purpose is to delete their names from the state's electoral roll.
Mandatory Citizenship Verification for Voters
The CEO's office published a draft electoral roll on December 16, 2025. All electors listed on that draft must now verify their citizenship status. This step is crucial. If you have acquired citizenship in any foreign country, you are no longer eligible to vote in India.
The office specifically mentioned Portuguese passport holders. They must act promptly. The required action is submitting Form 7 to the relevant Electoral Registration Officer. This form officially requests the removal of your name from the voter list.
Legal Disqualification for Non-Citizens
The law supporting this move is clear. Section 16(1)(a) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, states the rule. A person is disqualified from being registered as an elector if they are not an Indian citizen. This provision forms the legal backbone for the current directive.
Acquiring foreign citizenship, like Portuguese citizenship, automatically triggers this disqualification. The electoral authorities are now enforcing this rule strictly.
Severe Penalties for False Declarations
The CEO's office delivered a strong warning. Making a false declaration is a serious offense. Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, outlines the punishment.
If any person provides false information during the electoral roll process, they face legal consequences. The penalty can include imprisonment for up to one year. It may also involve a fine. In some cases, both imprisonment and a fine can be imposed.
The office emphasized that this applies to any false statement. This includes statements made for the preparation, revision, or correction of the electoral roll. It also covers the inclusion or exclusion of entries from the roll.
Proactive Data Sharing by Authorities
The electoral office is not relying solely on self-declaration. It has taken proactive measures. Officials recently obtained specific information. This data concerns individuals who surrendered their Indian passports after acquiring foreign citizenship.
The CEO's office has already shared this information. It went to the respective Electoral Registration Officers across Goa. This step ensures that the officers can cross-check declarations. It helps maintain the accuracy and integrity of the electoral roll.
The message from the authorities is unambiguous. Portuguese passport holders in Goa must comply with the directive. They need to declare their foreign citizenship status truthfully. Failure to do so risks significant legal penalties.
