Joaquim Fernandes

Panaji, Dec 21 (TOI): For the first time in Goa, citizens can now apply for inclusion of their names into the electoral roll by simple going online and logging on to the website of the chief electoral officer ( http://ceogoa.nic.in)

Effective December 19 , the CEO's office has initiated four services online for the benefit of citizens. These comprise inclusion of name into the electoral roll by online filling of form 6, deletion of name (form 7), correction of details (form 8) and transposition (form 8A). The process of transposition is done when a voter shifts residence from one polling station to another in the same constituency.

The system also allows voters to check the status of their applications for any of the services mentioned.

The voter, while filling any of the above forms, has to also attach scanned copies of various supporting documents as are prescribed by the CEO. For example, inclusion of name into the electoral roll requires proof of age, photo identity proof, proof of residence and a declaration.

Assistant CEO Arvind Bugde told TOI that these services are free of charge to citizens but some service charges may be levied if the voters fill the forms from a "citizen service centre". Once the request is submitted online, the applicant must take a printout of the application, sign it, and send it to the electoral registration officer (ERO) of the respective assembly constituency.

It may be noted that the voter need not travel to the CEO's office at Panaji to deliver hard copies of his application and supporting documents. These may be submitted to the EROs of the respective assembly constituency through one of four modes: postal services, booth-level officers of the part where the applicant is a voter, the assistant ERO of the assembly constituency (Mamlatdar, assistant Mamlatdar, Block Development officer or Sales Tax officer), or the nearest citizen service centre ( lok seva kendra).

Booth-level officers are serving government employees who are also voters of the polling station area pertinent to the voter. They will be accessible to voters of that area even after office hours and on holidays at their residences.

Bugde said the service will be delivered within 15 days of the receipt of the hard copy of the application duly signed by the applicant and supported with self-attested copies of the required documents.