Three-month window needed to implement new list, says Commissioner; CCP excluded due to procedural timeline
South Goa District Electoral officer, Egna Cleetus, IAS seen with representatives of political parties with the new electoral roll published on Saturday.
MARGAO
With the State election authorities publishing the final electoral roll on Saturday after the Special Intensive Revision 2026, State Election Commissioner Menino D’Souza on Saturday did not rule out the possibility of implementing the new roll for the municipal polls scheduled in May.
He, however, said the new electoral roll cannot be used for the upcoming election for the Corporation of the City of Panaji since the SEC requires at least three-month time to use the new roll for any election.
The State Election Commissioner told The Goan on Saturday that the SEC will examine the possibility of implementing the new electoral roll for the May 2026 Municipal polls. “The SEC intends to hold the elections for all the municipalities in the month of May. This will give the SEC sufficient time to implement the new roll as it normally takes three-month time to implement the new roll for any election. Still, the SEC has not taken any decision to implement the new roll which has been published on Saturday. The SEC will deliberate and take a conscious decision on the matter,” he said.
The SEC statement assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that there was no clarity on the question of using the new electoral roll for the upcoming CCP and Municipal elections.
South Goa electorate crosses 5.59 L, women electors lead
MARGAO: Female voters outnumber their male counterparts in South Goa district as the election authorities have published the new electoral roll for the 20 Assembly constituencies in the district.
As per the final electoral roll published and handed over to the political parties, the total number of electors in South Goa District is 5,59,282, comprising 2,69,488 male electors, 2,89,785 female electors, and 09 third gender electors.
The Collector and District Election Officer, South Goa District, Egna Cleetus, IAS, convened a meeting and handed over the final electoral roll prepared under the special intensive revision (SIR)-2026, published on February 21, 2026, to the representatives of recognised political parties.
The handing over of the roll was done in Conference Room No. 438, 4th Floor, Matanhy Saldanha Administrative Complex, South Goa District, Margao, on Saturday.
Briefing the media, the district electoral officer, Egna Cleetus, IAS informed that as per the final electoral roll, the total number of electors in South Goa District is 5,59,282, comprising 2,69,488 male electors, 2,89,785 female electors, and 09 third gender electors.
She said the special intensive revision process was conducted as per the schedule prescribed by the Election Commission of India. Initially the draft roll was published on December 16, 2025 for which the period for filing claims and objections was from December 16, 2025 to January 19, 2026, followed by the notice, hearing, verification and disposal phase, which continued until February 07, 2026. After completion of all statutory processes and obtaining necessary approval from the ECI, the final electoral roll has been published on February 21, 2026.
The District Election Officer stated that any elector aggrieved by the decision of the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) may file an appeal before the District Election Officer within the period of fifteen days from the date of order passed under Section 24(a) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. A second appeal under Section 24(b) against the decision of the First Appellate Authority shall lie before the Chief Electoral Officer within the period of thirty days from the date of order passed, in accordance with Rule 27 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The general public is informed that the final electoral roll is available with the concerned Electoral Registration Officers, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers and on the official website of the Chief Electoral Officer, Goa.
