Meghalaya has extended the deadline for filing claims and objections under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by 14 days following disruptions to the hearing process in Shillong last month.
The revised schedule gives affected electors additional time to respond to notices, attend hearings and submit the documents required for verification. The decision was taken after the disruption of scheduled hearings in East Khasi Hills district due to the law and order situation in Shillong.
Under the revised timeline, September 18, 2026, will be the last date for filing claims and objections. The disposal of claims and objections, including the notice and hearing process, has been extended until October 17, while the final electoral roll will now be published on October 21.
Revised SIR Schedule Announced
The extension represents a significant revision to the earlier SIR timeline in Meghalaya.
The claims and objections period, which was originally scheduled to end on September 4, has now been extended by two weeks. Similarly, the period for completing hearings and disposing of claims and objections has also been pushed back.
The revised schedule is as follows:
- Last date for filing claims and objections: September 18, 2026
- Disposal of claims and objections and completion of hearings: October 17, 2026
- Publication of final electoral roll: October 21, 2026
The extension is intended to ensure that voters whose hearings were postponed because of the disruption in Shillong are given adequate time and opportunity to complete the verification process.
Review Meetings Held With Election Officials and Political Parties
The decision to revise the schedule followed a review meeting chaired by Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer Dr B.D.R. Tiwari.
The meeting was attended by deputy commissioners, district election officers, electoral registration officers and assistant electoral registration officers. A separate meeting was also held with recognised national and state political parties to review the progress of the Special Intensive Revision exercise.
Officials reviewed the delivery of notices, the progress of hearings and the cases that require further verification. District authorities were directed to speed up the delivery of pending notices while ensuring that electors are provided sufficient opportunities to attend hearings and submit supporting documents.
SIR Hearings Resume in East Khasi Hills
The claims, objections and hearing process in East Khasi Hills district resumed from August 31 after being temporarily disrupted by the law and order situation in Shillong.
The disruption had affected scheduled hearings in several Assembly constituencies in the district, prompting election authorities to extend the overall timeline.
Electors whose hearings were postponed have been advised to remain in contact with their respective Booth Level Officers, Electoral Registration Officers and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers for their revised hearing dates.
Authorities have also asked voters to ensure that they attend the rescheduled hearings and carry the required supporting documents wherever necessary.
More Than 6.5 Lakh Notices Generated
The review found that a large number of cases remain under the verification process.
According to the election department, 6,51,735 notices have been generated so far, of which 5,71,989 notices have been delivered to the concerned electors.
Meanwhile, 1,29,298 hearings have been completed, accounting for around 19.84 per cent of the notices generated. Following the prescribed verification and hearing process, 297 electors have been found ineligible so far.
The Chief Electoral Officer has directed officials to examine each case carefully and ensure that voters are given an opportunity to explain discrepancies before any decision is taken.
Over 6.5 Lakh Cases Require Verification
The election department is also dealing with a substantial number of cases involving mapping issues and discrepancies.
According to official figures, 2,22,786 electors fall under the “No Mapping” category, while another 4,28,858 electors have been identified as having mapping discrepancies.
Together, these account for 6,51,644 cases requiring verification.
The discrepancies identified through the ECINET system include differences between an elector’s name and the corresponding details in the SIR 2005 records, mismatches involving parents’ names and unusual age differences among family members.
Officials have been instructed to closely monitor these cases and ensure that electors are allowed to explain or correct discrepancies during the hearing process.
Election Department Reiterates Due Process
The Meghalaya election department has reiterated that no elector’s name can be removed from the Draft Electoral Roll without following the prescribed legal procedure.
This includes issuing a notice to the concerned elector and providing a fair opportunity to appear for a hearing and submit the required documents.
Voters whose names are missing from the Draft Electoral Roll can still apply for inclusion by submitting Form 6 along with the prescribed declaration and supporting documents.
Meanwhile, applications relating to objections or deletion can be filed through Form 7, while voters seeking corrections or changes in their electoral details can use Form 8.
The extended deadline is expected to provide additional relief to electors affected by the Shillong disruption and those who require more time to complete the verification process.
Political Parties Asked to Assist Voters
Recognised political parties and their Booth Level Agents have also been asked to continue assisting electors during the SIR process.
The election authorities have urged political parties to help voters check their names and details in the Draft Electoral Roll, respond to notices and file claims or objections wherever necessary.
The review also covered available grievance redressal mechanisms, including the 1950 Voter Helpline, alternate mobile helplines, the NGSP web portal and the “Book a Call with BLO” facility.
These mechanisms are intended to make the revision process more accessible and help electors obtain assistance with verification-related issues.
Meghalaya Extends SIR Deadline to Ensure Wider Participation
The decision that Meghalaya extends SIR deadline by 14 days is aimed at ensuring that the disruption in Shillong does not prevent eligible voters from participating in the electoral roll revision process.
With hearings having resumed in East Khasi Hills and election officials directed to expedite pending work, the additional two weeks are expected to help affected electors complete the required procedures.
The extension also provides authorities with more time to address the large number of cases involving mapping discrepancies and pending verification.
As Meghalaya moves closer to the publication of its final electoral roll on October 21, election authorities are expected to focus on ensuring that all claims, objections and verification cases are handled through due process and that eligible voters are given a fair opportunity to be included in the final electoral rolls.