ECI asks Goa MP Capt. Viriato Fernandes to reverify identity for electoral roll

Goa Member of Parliament Capt Viriato Fernandes has said he received a notice from the Election Commission of India asking him to submit identity proof to retain his name on the electoral roll, despite having been verified before contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Fernandes, a former naval officer, said he has been a registered voter since 1989 and has consistently exercised his right to vote, including travelling from different naval postings during his 26 years of service to cast his ballot. He expressed surprise at being asked to reconfirm his identity after having undergone scrutiny as a candidate in a parliamentary election.

Raising concerns over the broader implications of the move, Fernandes said that if a sitting Member of Parliament is required to prove his identity again, it points to the challenges that ordinary citizens may face during the voter verification process. He said the development raises questions about how accessible and smooth the process would be for voters without public profiles or documentation readily at hand.

The notice is believed to be part of an ongoing exercise by the Election Commission of India to update and authenticate electoral rolls across constituencies. The verification drive aims to ensure accuracy in voter records and remove discrepancies, though it has drawn attention in cases involving elected representatives.

There has been no official response from the Election Commission on Fernandes’s specific case so far.