Calls to verify names post-Dec 9 amid fears of outsider entries
Former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes displaying a copy of the enumeration form before the media as he called upon the voters to remain vigilant throughout the process.
MARGAO
Former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes has on Thursday cautioned the people to remain alert about the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR), saying there is a real possibility of genuine Goan voters being deleted from the electoral rolls and inclusion of outside voters into the rolls.
He also made a fervent plea to the voters to maintain vigil when the process reaches the crucial phase after December 9, saying each and every voter should spend some time to check whether their names figure in the electoral roll. “If not, the concerned voters should send SOS to the election officials and get their names included with documents,” he added.
Addressing the media on Thursday, Gomes said there is a real possibility that names of genuine Goans voters is deleted from the SIR process. “One side, names of genuine voters may get deleted. On the other hand, voters registration, which is not a rocket science, anyone from any part of the country can get their names registered on the rolls by preparing the necessary document. Voters who have cast their vote in the recently held Bihar polls, can turn out voters in Goa in 2027 if they register their voters with the required documents,” he said.
While urging the people of Goa to remain vigilant, Gomes said, “Though the election authorities have promised fair play in conducting the process, the game is expected to turn rough, with political figures and MLAs opening their shops,” he added.
Reiterating his objection to the Booth Level Officer’s insistence of passport as a document during the ongoing enumeration process, Gomes said he has lodged a formal complaint with the South Goa district electoral officer.
He also took exception to the claims made by the election officials that voters who are presently abroad can fill up the forms online. “Many voters tried to submit the forms online. But, they found there was no link for the first seven days. And, now technical glitches have come in the way of smooth submission of the forms. I am surprised that the EC has not uttered a word on the problems faced by the voters presently holed up abroad,” he added.
Saying that voters have been given the liberty to produce any of the documents, Gomes questioned why the BLOs are insisting on the passport document which is listed on number four in the list of documents.
