Goa CEO: 97 pending voter roll cases being processed, no eligible elector left behind
Synopsis
Goa's Chief Electoral Officer has confirmed that 97 voters dropped from the February 2026 final electoral roll — flagged for 'logical discrepancies' and later cleared by EROs on Supreme Court directions — are still being enrolled. The assurance comes after a media investigation raised questions about the SIR process, even as the Election Commission of India defended its internal deliberations and cited 40 new electoral reforms in the past year.
Key Takeaways
The CEO, Goa confirmed 97 voter cases excluded from the February 2026 final electoral roll are being processed through BLO house-to-house visits for Form 6 completion.
Many of the 97 applicants have already been enrolled; the remaining cases are under active processing.
The Electoral Registration Officers cleared all 97 as eligible after document scrutiny directed by the Supreme Court .
The Election Commission of India defended its processes under Article 324 of the Constitution and the 2023 Act , stating internal deliberations are standard practice.
The ECI has rolled out around 40 new electoral initiatives and conducted major elections in six states over the past year.
The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Goa, on Thursday, 24 September 2026, confirmed that 97 voter applications excluded from the final electoral roll published in February 2026 are being actively processed through house-to-house visits by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to complete Form 6. The statement comes amid scrutiny over Goa's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
What the CEO's Office Said
In an official statement also shared on its X handle, the CEO's office said: “The 97 cases not included in the Final Roll published in February 2026 were separately processed through house-to-house visits by BLOs for completion of Form 6. Many have since been enrolled, while the remaining cases are being processed. It is reiterated that no eligible elector will be left behind.”
The assurance follows an investigation by The Indian Express, which reported that the 97 voters had been flagged for ‘logical discrepancies’ during the SIR. Local Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) subsequently examined them and, after document scrutiny as directed by the Supreme Court, cleared all of them as eligible for inclusion in the final roll.
Election Commission of India Defends Its Processes
Separately, the Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a statement on Wednesday, reaffirming that it functions as a multi-member constitutional body under Article 324 of the Constitution. The Commission emphasised that all official orders, decisions, and administrative directions carry full legal sanction under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
The ECI clarified that internal notes or observations by Commissioners during draft stages constitute standard administrative practice. “Differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberation in any institution,” the Commission stated, pushing back against what it characterised as selective reportage that highlighted internal notes while overlooking the broader record of decisions.
Scale of Recent Electoral Reforms
The Commission noted that it has introduced around 40 new initiatives and undertaken extensive electoral reforms over the past year, including the nationwide Electoral Roll Revision (Special Intensive Revision). It also successfully conducted major elections in Bihar, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Assam, and West Bengal.
The ECI further highlighted that its digital platforms, including ECINet, operate under strict data security protocols with IT security checks and cyber-security measures across national databases to prevent unauthorised tampering or manipulation.
Statutory Safeguards and Next Steps
The Commission reiterated that statutory authorities — including Electoral Registration Officers and District Election Officers (DEOs) — function within their statutory powers for registration and deletion under the law. The remaining cases among the 97 flagged applications continue to be processed, with the CEO's office pledging that voter rights will be upheld in full.
The episode underscores ongoing questions about the integrity and completeness of voter rolls in India, with civil society and the judiciary continuing to watch proceedings closely.
Point of View
But the circumstances matter: these were people cleared by officers following Supreme Court directions, yet still outside the final roll months later. The ECI's broader defence — pointing to 40 reforms and six state elections — does not directly address why a court-sanctioned clearance still required follow-up media scrutiny to trigger action. The deeper issue is whether the SIR's 'logical discrepancy' filter is calibrated correctly, or whether it is disproportionately excluding genuine voters. Until the Commission publishes granular data on how many voters were flagged, cleared, and ultimately enrolled across all states, the reassurance remains partial.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 97 pending voter cases in Goa about?
These are 97 voter applications that were excluded from the final electoral roll published in February 2026 during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, after being flagged for 'logical discrepancies.' Electoral Registration Officers later cleared all of them as eligible following document scrutiny directed by the Supreme Court, and the CEO's office is now enrolling them through BLO house visits to complete Form 6.
What is Form 6 and why are BLOs visiting homes?
Form 6 is the official application form for new voter registration in India. Booth Level Officers are conducting house-to-house visits to help the 97 flagged applicants complete and submit this form so their names can be formally added to the electoral roll.
Why did the Election Commission of India issue a separate statement?
The ECI issued its statement on Wednesday to address media reports highlighting internal notes and differing views among Commissioners during the draft SIR process. The Commission argued that internal deliberations are standard practice in any multi-member body and that selective focus on such notes distorts the overall picture of its functioning and decisions.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The SIR is a nationwide exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to update and clean the electoral rolls by adding new eligible voters, removing deceased or shifted electors, and correcting errors. The revision that excluded the 97 Goa applicants was part of this process and concluded with the final roll published in February 2026.
Has the Supreme Court been involved in this matter?
Yes. According to reports, the document scrutiny that led to the 97 applicants being declared eligible was conducted as directed by the Supreme Court. The Court's involvement indicates that the matter had already attracted judicial attention before the CEO's latest assurance.
