A prominent civic body in Goa has sounded the alarm at the Election Commission of India's doorstep, warning that a massive voter list cleanup could unjustly strip thousands of non-resident Goans of their democratic rights. The Citizens for Democracy Goa has formally objected to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which targets the removal of approximately 90,000 names from the state's electoral rolls.
NRI Community at the Heart of the Controversy
The core of the grievance lies in the potential impact on Goa's significant diaspora. The organisation argues that the state's unique socio-economic fabric, where many families have members working overseas, is not being considered. They contend that the one-month deadline for the revision is woefully inadequate for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to respond and safeguard their voting status.
In a representation submitted by convenors Elvis Gomes and Pradeep Padgaonkar, the group detailed serious flaws in the process's execution. They alleged that the SIR drive suffered from poor publicity and technical glitches. A major hurdle cited was that the online facility for NRIs to verify their details became functional only after a week's delay. Furthermore, the portal imposed stringent conditions, such as requiring an India-based mobile number linked to the voter ID and demanding exact character matches between Aadhaar and voter ID documents—a tall order for those abroad.
Transparency and Manipulation Concerns Raised
The concerns extend beyond accessibility. The Citizens for Democracy has questioned the transparency surrounding the criteria for marking voters for deletion. Names are being flagged as 'absent', 'shifted', 'dead', or 'duplicate' without, they claim, a robust and verifiable process. This creates a dangerous paradox: while genuine NRI voters face exclusion, the system allows for potential political manipulation.
The group highlighted that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have access to an 'EDIT' function, which can arbitrarily roll back deletions. This, they allege, opens the door for selective reinstatement of voters, undermining the integrity of the entire exercise.
Demands for Extension and Cleaner Rolls
To address these issues, the organisation has put forth specific demands to the Election Commission. Drawing a precedent from the demonetisation period, they have sought a three-month extension specifically for NRIs currently residing abroad to review their status.
Simultaneously, they have called for stricter action in other areas. The representation urges the mandatory deletion of voters who are still registered at addresses that are non-operational commercial establishments or government quarters they have long vacated. This, they argue, would be a more meaningful step towards purifying the electoral roll than targeting legitimate overseas voters.
The move by Citizens for Democracy Goa puts a spotlight on the delicate balance between cleaning up voter lists and protecting the franchise of a mobile population. The Election Commission's response to these allegations will be closely watched, as it could set a significant precedent for the inclusion of India's vast diaspora in the democratic process.
