Meghalaya’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has flagged 6,51,644 cases for notice and further verification. The Election Department said the affected electors will get an opportunity to explain discrepancies and submit supporting documents.
The figure includes 2,22,786 electors whose records could not be mapped to the previous SIR 2005 records. Another 4,28,858 cases involve discrepancies found during the mapping process. The Chief Electoral Officer’s latest review discussed these cases and the next steps in the verification process.
The review took place on August 18. Deputy Commissioners, District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers attended the meeting. They assessed the progress of the notice and hearing phase across Meghalaya.
The Election Department has stressed that appearing on the notice list does not automatically mean deletion from the electoral roll. Instead, officials will examine each case individually and give affected voters a chance to respond.
6.51 Lakh Cases Flagged for Verification
The SIR process compares current electoral records with previous electoral rolls. In Meghalaya, officials are using the 2005 electoral records as part of this exercise.
The mapping process has identified two broad categories of cases. The first involves voters whose current records could not be linked to the 2005 records. This category covers 2,22,786 electors.
The second category includes 4,28,858 cases where officials found discrepancies during the mapping process. These cases now require further verification before officials take any final decision.
The Election Department said officials will examine each case on its individual merits. Therefore, voters who receive notices will have an opportunity to clarify their records.
What Discrepancies Did Officials Find?
The Election Department identified several types of discrepancies through ECINET during the mapping exercise. These include differences between an elector’s name and the corresponding name in the 2005 electoral records.
Officials also found mismatches involving the names of parents. Other cases involved unusual age differences between parents and children.
The verification process also flagged some unusual family relationships in the electoral data. These included an age gap of less than nine months between siblings linked to the same parent.
Officials also identified cases where more than six children appeared linked to the same parent. Another category involved an age difference of less than 40 years between an elector and a grandparent.
Such discrepancies do not automatically establish that a voter is ineligible. Instead, they indicate that officials need additional information to verify the records.
Notices and Hearings Already Underway
The Election Department has started generating and distributing notices to affected electors. Hearings have also begun before Electoral Registration Officers and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers.
Voters who receive notices must attend the hearing on the specified date. They can explain the discrepancy and submit the documents required under the prescribed procedure.
The department has emphasised that voters should cooperate with election officials during the verification process. Providing accurate information and supporting documents can help officials resolve discrepancies.
The hearing stage therefore gives voters an important opportunity to protect their electoral status. Officials will consider the explanations and documents before taking any decision.
Being Flagged Does Not Mean Automatic Deletion
The Election Department has issued an important clarification for voters. Inclusion in the notice or verification list does not automatically mean that an elector will lose their name from the roll.
The department has stated that no name appearing in the Draft Electoral Roll will be deleted without following due process. That process includes issuing a notice and giving the concerned elector an opportunity for a hearing.
This clarification is particularly important for the 6.51 lakh affected cases. Voters should not assume that their names will disappear simply because officials have flagged their records.
Instead, they should check whether they have received a notice. Those who receive one should attend the hearing and provide the required documents.
Voters With Successfully Mapped Records Need No Action
The Election Department has also clarified that not every voter needs to take additional steps.
Electors whose names appear in the Draft Electoral Roll and whose records have been successfully mapped with the SIR 2005 records do not need to take further action at this stage.
However, voters should still check the Draft Electoral Roll to ensure that their names and details appear correctly. Early verification can help voters identify problems before the claims and objections period ends.
Those who receive notices should respond within the prescribed process. Voters whose names do not appear in the draft roll can also take steps to seek inclusion.
Claims and Objections Period Continues
The claims and objections period in Meghalaya began on August 5 and will continue until September 4. During this period, voters can submit applications for inclusion, objections, corrections and other changes.
Voters whose names are missing from the Draft Electoral Roll can apply for inclusion through Form 6. They must also submit the prescribed declaration and supporting documents.
The Election Department is publishing lists of claims and objections on the CEO Meghalaya website. These lists cover applications for inclusion, objections, corrections, replacement and shifting of electors within or outside a constituency.
The publication of these lists allows political parties and other stakeholders to monitor the process and raise concerns where necessary.
Over 4,000 Applications Received
The latest review also found that 4,091 applications had reached election authorities after publication of the Draft Electoral Roll.
Of these, 1,847 were Form 6 applications seeking inclusion in the electoral roll. Officials also received 144 Form 7 applications.
The department recorded 384 Form 8 applications for shifting and another 1,716 Form 8 applications covering other permitted changes.
The Chief Electoral Officer has directed district election authorities to scrutinise and process these applications according to the prescribed procedure.
Political Parties Asked to Strengthen BLA Network
The Election Department also held a separate meeting with recognised national and state political parties on August 18. The discussion focused on the role of Booth Level Agents (BLAs) during the SIR process.
So far, political parties have appointed 1,810 BLAs across Meghalaya. The National People’s Party has appointed 724, followed by the BJP with 401.
The VPP has appointed 320 BLAs, while the Congress has appointed 186. The UDP has appointed 121 and the AITC has appointed 58.
The CEO has asked political parties to strengthen their BLA networks. Officials want party representatives to help voters understand notices, check their names and navigate the claims and objections process.
Observers to Review SIR Progress
Electoral Roll Observers will also visit districts to assess the progress of the SIR. Their review will focus on the notice and hearing process, disposal of claims and objections and compliance with prescribed procedures.
The observers will help assess whether district authorities are following the required process. Their visits will also provide an additional layer of monitoring during the revision exercise.
The Election Department wants the entire process to remain transparent and follow the prescribed electoral rules.
Final Electoral Roll Due on October 7
The SIR process will continue over the coming weeks. The notice phase and disposal of claims and objections will continue until October 3.
After officials complete the verification and disposal process, Meghalaya’s final electoral roll is scheduled for publication on October 7.
Until then, voters have several opportunities to check their records and correct any problems. The Election Department has urged voters to act promptly if they need to submit documents, respond to notices or seek inclusion.
Voters Advised to Check Their Names
The Meghalaya Election Department has urged all voters to check their names in the Draft Electoral Roll. Those whose names appear correctly and whose records have been successfully mapped do not need to take further action.
However, voters who receive notices should attend the specified hearing and provide the required documents. Those missing from the draft roll can submit Form 6 during the claims and objections period.
The government has emphasised that the notice process aims to verify electoral records rather than automatically remove voters.
With 6,51,644 cases now flagged for further verification, the coming weeks will be crucial for Meghalaya’s SIR exercise. Officials will continue hearings, process claims and objections and review electoral records before publishing the final roll on October 7.
For voters, the key message remains clear: check your name, read any notice carefully and respond within the prescribed deadline if clarification or correction is required.