Meghalaya SIR deadline has been extended by 14 days following disruption to hearings in Shillong last month, giving voters additional time to respond to notices, attend hearings and submit documents during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The revised schedule has pushed the final publication of Meghalaya’s electoral roll to October 21, 2026.
The decision was announced by Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr B.D.R. Tiwari after a review of the progress of the SIR exercise with Deputy Commissioners, District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers. Recognised national and state political parties were also consulted during the review.
Meghalaya SIR deadline moved to September 18
Under the revised schedule, September 18 is now the last date for voters to file claims and objections. The disposal of claims and objections, including notices and hearings, has been extended until October 17.
The final electoral roll will subsequently be published on October 21, 14 days later than the earlier schedule. The extension is aimed at ensuring that electors affected by the disruption in Shillong are not denied adequate time to participate in the verification process.
The claims and objections process in East Khasi Hills district resumed on August 31 after hearings were temporarily disrupted because of the law and order situation in Shillong. Officials have been instructed to ensure that postponed hearings are completed and that affected voters receive sufficient opportunities to present their cases.
Over 6.5 lakh notices generated under SIR
The latest review highlighted the scale of the electoral roll verification exercise in Meghalaya. According to the election department, 6,51,735 notices have been generated so far, of which 5,71,989 have been delivered to the concerned electors.
As of the latest review, 1,29,298 hearings had been completed, representing 19.84 per cent of the notices generated. Officials said 297 electors had been found ineligible after the prescribed verification and hearing process.
The CEO directed election officials to examine cases individually and provide voters receiving notices with a fair opportunity to clarify discrepancies and submit supporting documents. The department has reiterated that a voter’s name cannot be removed from the draft electoral roll without following due process, including notice and an opportunity to be heard.
Verification focuses on mapping discrepancies
A significant part of the SIR exercise involves cases requiring additional verification. Officials said 2,22,786 electors fall under the “No Mapping” category, while 4,28,858 have been identified with mapping discrepancies. Together, these account for 6,51,644 cases requiring verification.
The discrepancies identified through ECINET include differences between an elector’s name and corresponding details in the previous SIR 2005 records. Other cases involve mismatches in parents’ names and unusual age differences between family members. Officials have been asked to examine these cases carefully during the hearing process.
What voters need to do
The revised Meghalaya SIR deadline is particularly important for electors who have received notices or whose names require verification. Voters whose names appear in the draft electoral roll and are properly mapped with the 2005 records do not need to take further action.
Those whose names appear in the draft roll but are not mapped, or whose records show discrepancies, should attend the hearing mentioned in their notice and provide the required documents.
Voters who find that their names are missing from the draft electoral roll can seek inclusion by submitting Form 6 along with the prescribed declaration and supporting documents during the extended claims and objections period. Form 7 can be used for objections or deletion requests, while Form 8 covers shifting of residence or correction of electoral roll particulars.
Officials asked to clear pending hearings
The election department has asked district-level election machinery to clear pending hearings promptly while maintaining due process. Electors whose hearings were postponed in East Khasi Hills have been advised to stay in touch with their Booth Level Officers, Electoral Registration Officers or Assistant Electoral Registration Officers for updated dates.
Political parties and their Booth Level Agents have also been asked to assist voters in checking their names and particulars in the draft electoral roll and filing claims or objections where necessary. The election department has reviewed grievance channels, including the 1950 Voter Helpline, the National Grievance Service Portal and the “Book a Call with BLO” facility.
The extension gives Meghalaya’s election machinery additional time to complete a large and sensitive verification exercise while allowing affected voters to participate fully. With the Meghalaya SIR deadline now extended to September 18 and the final electoral roll scheduled for October 21, officials and voters have a longer window to resolve discrepancies and ensure that eligible electors are accurately represented in the final roll.