Shillong: Meghalaya Cabinet Minister and BJP leader Sanbor Shullai backed the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls on Tuesday. He insists the state must block illegal immigrants from voting. The process remains vital for election integrity.
Shullai hit back at the Congress and INDIA Bloc. He accused the opposition of inventing lies to confuse the public about the Election Commission of India. A recent Joint Press Note from the full Commission disproved these claims. Shullai stated, "The Joint Press Note has conclusively proved that Congress and its I.N.D.I. alliance partners have been manufacturing lies to mislead the people of the country."
The minister dismissed reports of infighting among the three Election Commissioners. He noted that the panel acts on consensus. Records show the revision covers 23,49,645 electors. Officials finished house-to-house verification and published the draft list in August. The state is now holding hearings. It plans to release the final roll in October.
Shullai warned citizens against believing what he calls malicious propaganda. He argues that the Congress party attacks constitutional institutions whenever they lose elections. He urged voters to ignore the opposition rhetoric and support the clean-up of voter lists.
Updated at 30th September 2026 at 9:47am
State officials reported that 19,07,182 electors from the draft roll are ready for final publication. The draft roll currently holds 21,69,243 total names. Of the 6,51,735 notices sent out to residents, 6,51,066 were delivered, leaving only 619 pending. Officials have wrapped up hearings in 5,90,784 cases, marking 90.65 percent completion, with 910 individuals removed for ineligibility.
Chief Electoral Officer B.D.R. Tiwari clarified that a notice regarding mapping discrepancies does not automatically trigger a name removal. To streamline the process, the Election Commission ruled that most electors with logical errors will not need to visit an ERO office. BLOs will handle document collection at homes, and if hearings are required, they can be conducted online. Special camps are also set for homeless residents and laborers.
Shullai invoked a May 27, 2026, Supreme Court judgment to defend the Commission's power to demand specific documentation for voter registration. He challenged the Congress to explain if they are now questioning the judiciary while pretending to defend democratic values. Political parties have now appointed 1,814 Booth Level Agents to monitor the process, with the NPP leading in representation followed by the BJP, VPP, INC, UDP, and AITC.
Updated at 30th September 2026 at 2:00pm
State officials have processed 23,259 applications, digitizing 12,624 registrations, 1,616 removal requests, 1,590 transfer filings, and 7,429 correction forms. The election department confirms that while claims and objections wrapped up September 18, continuous updation remains active for first-time voters.
Political parties have deployed 1,814 Booth Level Agents to keep watch on the final steps. The National People's Party leads the effort with 736 agents, followed by the BJP with 393, the VPP with 320, the Congress with 186, the UDP with 121, and the AITC with 58.
Authorities have also rolled out specific support measures, including special camps for laborers and the homeless. For voters flagged with mapping gaps, the Election Commission has streamlined the process: BLOs will collect documents at private homes, and officials will prioritize online hearings to prevent unnecessary travel to government offices.
Updated at 30th September 2026 at 5:51pm
Election officials flagged 2,22,786 cases for lack of mapping and another 4,28,949 files for internal discrepancies. While the claims and objections window shut on September 18, the state remains open for continuous updates to capture first time voters.
Dr. B.D.R. Tiwari noted that while hearings are held, eligible citizens can send an adult family member to appear on their behalf to cut down on red tape. The department also confirmed that 9,019 applications were filed specifically for shifting and records corrections.
Updated at 1st October 2026 at 1:48pm
The Election Commission of India pushed the final publication date for the state electoral roll to October 26. The shift from the original October 21 deadline grants officials extra time to wrap up notices and hearings for records flagged during the revision.
Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, and Vivek Joshi finalized the extension at a meeting in New Delhi. The move aims to give voters with mapping gaps from the 2005 roll more breathing room to submit required documents and secure their registration.
Updated at 1st October 2026 at 9:52pm
State records updated as of October 1 show the hearing completion rate has climbed to 93.13 percent, with 6,06,939 of the 6,51,735 issued notices now resolved. The number of ineligible voters identified has risen to 1,194, and 19,71,723 electors are currently slated for inclusion in the final roll.
The Election Commission of India officially pushed the final publication date back to October 26 to grant voters extra time to clear up issues linked to the 2005 roll mapping gaps. Officials emphasized that house-to-house enumeration for this cycle kicked off back in June, setting the stage for the current push to finalize the lists.
Updated at 2nd October 2026 at 9:47am
Chief Electoral Officer B.D.R. Tiwari confirmed the Shillong Lok Sabha by-election remains on ice until the final electoral roll hits the desks. The ECI has yet to send word on the poll schedule, which cannot move forward until the revision process concludes on October 26.
Political maneuvering is already underway for the vacant seat. While most major parties have already staked their claims on candidates following the death of VPP MP Ricky A.J. Syngkon, the BJP has yet to name its runner.
Updated at 2nd October 2026 at 1:49pm
Chief Electoral Officer B.D.R. Tiwari confirmed that the state is pressing ahead with the revision in areas claimed by Assam. While residents in some border villages have resisted the process or refused to accept forms, Tiwari stated that the department will continue to exercise its existing electoral jurisdiction in those zones regardless of the territorial impasse.
Officials reported that some residents in these contested areas explicitly told authorities they do not want to remain on Meghalaya’s rolls. Tiwari noted that while the state cannot force participation, officials will continue to follow statutory procedures for all individuals currently under the state’s electoral umbrella, extending the same home visit document collection measures to those border districts.
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