Shillong: The Garo Students’ Union has challenged the integrity of Meghalaya’s electoral rolls after discovering extreme voter inflation in the Phulbari constituency. During a review of the 2025 voter list for Kalapani village, the union identified a residence where the number of registered voters jumped from 14 to 176. This 1,157 percent increase triggered concerns regarding the accuracy of the state’s election data.
Further inspection of the Chibinang area revealed additional irregularities, including another home where the voter count rose from four in 2005 to 84 in 2025. Chuang Neyzer R Marak, president of the GSU Phulbari Regional Unit, warned that these spikes cannot be attributed to normal population growth. He stated, "The findings warrant an immediate, detailed examination of the rolls."
The union is calling for a formal verification process to remove ghost voters and prevent illegal influence in upcoming elections. Chief Electoral Officer BDR Tiwari defended the current revision process, asserting that it is being conducted "strictly in accordance with the law" and the established schedule. Tiwari emphasized that the election department remains committed to transparency and will ensure only valid voters appear on the final registry.
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