PANAJI
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjay Goel on Monday clarified that his inadvertent use of the term “OCI” in place of “overseas electors” during the briefing on Sunday, had led to avoidable concern among voters.
In a press statement, the CEO stressed that Goa has 88 overseas electors, all of whom are Indian citizens living abroad, and that online Enumeration Forms submission facilities are available to them.
“CEO has clarified that the word OCI was used instead of overseas and thus the same may be duly published to clear doubt and anxiety created due to the use of the term OCI in place of Overseas electors,” the statement reads.
On Sunday, during a media briefing, Goel said that BLOs have identified 88 OCI card holders in Goa who remain eligible to vote. “We have 88 OCI card holders registered with us. They are citizens of India but currently residing abroad, hence eligible to vote. EC has given them a special facility to vote after they registered as OCI,” Goel had said responding to a question.
In the same briefing, Geol had also said that the election authorities in the state are unable to track or identify voters who are foreign nationals, Portuguese passport holders, or those registered as voters in other states where the SIR is not being conducted and that they depend on self-declaration.
He, however, maintained that having voter ID despite possessing a foreign passport or being registered in another state, is a criminal offence.
