Massive Voter Verification Drive Concludes in Goa
Goa's election authorities have successfully collected and digitized 96.5% of enumeration forms during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, marking a significant milestone in the state's voter verification process. According to Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Goel, the comprehensive exercise has identified approximately 90,000 invalid voter entries that will be excluded from the upcoming draft electoral roll.
Substantial Number of Voters Found Ineligible
Out of the total 11.85 lakh existing electors in Goa, the verification process has revealed that around 90,000 individuals fall into categories that make them ineligible for inclusion in the revised electoral list. These categories include voters who are absent, have shifted to different locations, are deceased, or represent duplicate entries in the current system.
Sanjay Goel explained the verification methodology: "During the enumeration phase, when forms were distributed and booth-level officers visited residences, they discovered that these 90,000 voters were either untraceable, had relocated, had passed away, or were informed to have voted elsewhere."
The CEO confirmed that these 90,000 voters will not appear in the draft electoral roll scheduled for publication on December 9, 2025. To ensure transparency, the election commission will publish the complete list of excluded voters both online and on physical notice boards displayed at various public offices across the state.
Claims and Objections Period Announced
Goa's election authorities have established a substantial window for addressing potential errors in the draft electoral roll. From December 9, 2025, to February 7, 2026, citizens can submit claims and objections regarding any incorrectly marked entries or omissions.
Meanwhile, approximately 40,000 enumeration forms remain outstanding, and the CEO has made a public appeal to electors to submit these documents before the December 4 deadline to ensure their inclusion in the final electoral list.
The verification process has also identified about 2.2 lakh voters who could not be mapped against previous records. Goel clarified that while these voters' names appear in the 2025 electoral roll, they weren't documented during the last SIR conducted in Goa in 2002. However, since enumeration forms have been received for these individuals, their names will be included in the December 9 draft publication.
Addressing Portuguese Citizenship Concerns
Responding to queries about voters who have acquired Portuguese citizenship, CEO Goel provided clear guidelines: "The eligibility criteria for voters are explicitly defined. If an individual has obtained a Portuguese passport, they automatically cease to be Indian citizens and consequently become ineligible for voter registration."
He acknowledged the current system's limitations, noting that the election commission relies on self-declaration from citizens since there's no automatic notification mechanism when someone surrenders their Indian passport. However, Goel emphasized that providing false declarations could lead to prosecution under relevant legal provisions.
The CEO reported minimal disruptions during the entire verification process, stating: "There have been virtually no complaints. Apart from one minor issue concerning a booth-level officer, all matters have been successfully resolved."
Voters requiring additional documentation can submit either an extract from the previous SIR or any of the 13 designated documents specified by the Election Commission during summary hearings to facilitate their inclusion in the final electoral roll.
