Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Election officials in Meghalaya are currently vetting over 74,000 suspicious voter entries. This surge in scrutiny comes before the draft electoral roll hits the public on August 5, 2026. The state holds 23,49,645 total electors. Currently, 74,006 names are marked as Absentee, Shifted, Deceased, or Duplicate.
These flagged entries account for 2.29 percent of the total electorate. This list includes 7,927 absentee voters, 18,729 shifted, 44,012 deceased, and 2,892 duplicate files. No deletions are automatic. Officials must verify each case per the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal dismissed claims that Bangladeshi infiltrators are using fake Khasi surnames to rig the lists. He called these concerns unfounded. The revision is a validation exercise, not a new enrollment drive. "If a person was not a registered elector in 2025, they will not even receive an enumeration form because this is not an enrolment exercise. It is only meant to validate those who are already enrolled," Baranwal said.
Security measures remain rigid. Voters must prove they or their parents appeared on the 2005 electoral roll. If they cannot, they must provide one of 13 official documents. 3,551 Booth Level Officers handle the workload. These officers have distributed forms to 98.71 percent of the state. They have digitised 16.85 lakh forms.
Pressure is high. Deadlines are tight. Many residents are asking officers to fill out their paperwork, slowing down the process. Despite the strain, the Election Department remains confident. They confirmed that 892 Booth Level Agents are assisting to ensure transparency. Students and workers residing outside the state can use the ECINET platform to verify their status. The final goal is a clean list.
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