CEO admits no record of dual voters in border areas ahead of roll revision

SHILLONG, May 29: While the border dispute between Meghalaya and Assam remains unresolved, the State Election Department admitted on Friday it has no official record of dual voters in contested areas, even as it prepares to launch a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls based on 20-year-old data.
Speaking to reporters, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) BDR Tiwari said that the upcoming SIR would be conducted according to Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines, using the 2005 base electoral rolls as a primary reference point.
“Whatever the present electoral roll is, and the base electoral roll of 2005 when the previous SIR happened, the exercise will be conducted as per those records,” Tiwari said.
The admission that the department lacks data on dual voters comes despite frequent claims by local pressure groups and residents in disputed sectors like Block I, Block II, and Langpih, who allege that many individuals are enrolled in both states. When questioned on how the SIR would address these concerns in villages claimed by both Shillong and Dispur, the CEO maintained the department has no evidence of such irregularities but indicated the revision would serve as a mechanism to verify records.
Tiwari noted that the Election Department has begun preparatory work, including mapping current voter lists against previous records. The exercise is now entering the training phase ahead of field-level verification.
Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will be tasked with visiting households to distribute enumeration forms and assist with voter verification. Under election law, any eligible Indian citizen aged 18 or above who is “ordinarily residing” in Meghalaya is entitled to enrollment. However, the definition of “ordinarily residing” remains a central point of contention in border zones where jurisdiction is actively disputed.
Regarding documentation, Tiwari said electors must provide prescribed proof, such as family linkage documents or Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC). He added that Aadhaar may be accepted as identity proof, subject to legal provisions and ECI guidelines—a sensitive matter in Meghalaya where Aadhaar remains a subject of public debate.
The CEO stated that the state machinery is fully prepared for the SIR to ensure electoral rolls are updated and accurate.