Appeal to make verification process humane and voter-friendly
Queues of voters seen in the South Goa Collectorate after being served notices as part of the ongoing SIR exercise.
MARGAO
A citizen of Margao on Tuesday said it is very important for citizens to take a written order from the ERO/AERO after any discrepancy noted in SIR-2025 is treated as verified and disposed of.
In fact, Vishal Pai Cacode has appealed to the Electoral Roll Observer for Goa, Sandeep Jacques (IAS), to personally intervene and make the entire process more citizen-friendly, especially for senior citizens, women, mothers with infants and persons with disabilities.
Cacode was served a notice by the BLO of his part in Margao on Friday, 23rd January 2026, directing him to appear before the AERO-Margao on Tuesday, 27th January between 9 am and 12 noon, as there was a mismatch between his name and his father’s name. The concerned BLO had told him to produce his Birth Certificate before the AERO to resolve the issue.
“Since the next three days were holidays, he could not obtain his Birth Certificate. I questioned how such a discrepancy could suddenly be raked up now when he had earlier served as an election agent of a candidate in Margao in three elections. I brought it to the notice of the AERO that such issues should ideally be resolved at the BLO level itself, without compelling citizens to travel all the way to the Collectorate Office,” he said.
Cacode further said that he insisted the AERO provide him with a written order clearly stating that the discrepancy observed in SIR-2025 was resolved and that his name in the electoral roll would be retained.
After his demand, the AERO provided him with the order. He appealed to all citizens to insist on such written orders so that there is clarity and certainty regarding the status of their names in the electoral roll.
He has appealed to the Electoral Roll Officer for Goa, Sandip Jacques (IAS), for his personal intervention to streamline the process, make it humane and citizen-friendly, and give relief to senior citizens, women, mothers with infants and persons with disabilities who should not be forced to undergo avoidable hardship for minor discrepancies.
