DUAL VOTERS
SHILLONG: The State Election department will exchange names of voters living along the inter-state borders with Assam to single out dual voters after the election process in the neighbouring state is over.
There are dual voters residing along the inter-state border in Ri-Bhoi, Jaintia Hills, West Khasi Hills and Garo Hills who exercise their franchise in both Meghalaya and Assam.
State Chief Electoral Officer P Naik said on Wednesday that the matter will be taken up with Assam once the election process is over in the neighbouring state on April 24.
There are dual voters in Block-I situated in the West Jaintia Hills-Dima Hasao districts and Block-II in Ri Bhoi-Karbi Anglong districts.
During the just concluded second phase of Lok Sabha election in Assam, many residents from Block-II voted in Assam after having already cast their votes for the Meghalaya elections on April 9.
Meanwhile, an official source on Wednesday said that with the “de-duplication software” available with the Election Commission, the names of dual voters can be easily verified and subsequently deleted.
Earlier, based on a complaint lodged by FKJGP, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi, who is also the Returning Officer for Tura Lok Sabha seat, made an initiative to delete the names of some dual voters.
The FKJGP had provided copies of the electoral rolls from Assam containing the names of Meghalaya voters.
According to the FKJGP complaint, many voters in Phulbari in West Garo Hills and adjoining areas had election ID cards of both Meghalaya and Assam.
“After the matter was brought to light we filed an FIR and took action,” Bakshi said.