PANAJI
A group of activists under the banner 'SIR Citizens’ Monitor Goa' has submitted a detailed representation to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjay Goel, IAS, highlighting what they described as serious procedural lapses in Phase II of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
In their memorandum, the activists pointed to widespread confusion over timelines, noting that the Election Commission’s website lists January 15, 2026, as the last date for claims and objections, while February 7, 2026, is set as the deadline for hearings and verification.
This dual categorisation, they argued, has created uncertainty among voters.
The group also expressed concern that no timeline has been specified for new voters -- including those attaining voting age, shifting residence, or inadvertently left out despite holding voter cards.
They alleged that the current exercise appears more focused on deletions than on ensuring inclusion, undermining the very purpose of a special revision.
Another major issue raised was the lack of a defined process for individuals without access to parental birth documents, such as orphans, children of single or remarried parents, and members of marginalised communities. The activists warned that this gap could lead to the wrongful exclusion of eligible voters.
They further highlighted difficulties faced by citizens in accessing information online, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and stressed the need for mass awareness campaigns through radio, social media, and panchayat offices.
Specific grievances were also raised about notices for hearings, which require voters born after July 1, 1987, to produce parental documents from a list of 13 approved ones. Many, they said, were unaware of this requirement and turned up with only their own papers, leading to delays and distress.
Among their demands were extensions of deadlines for claims, objections, and hearings; establishment of daily help desks at SIR offices; clear guidance on acceptable documents; and alternative verification paths for those lacking parental records.
Signatories to the representation included Abdul Wahab, Albertina Almeida, Cyril Fernandes, Elvis Gomes, Melwin Fernandes, and Radhika Desai, and they urged the CEO to act swiftly to prevent disenfranchisement and ensure that the revision exercise strengthens, rather than weakens, the democratic process.
