Shillong, Sept 10, 2025: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday assured the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly that the government would take all necessary steps to prevent non-residents from being enrolled in the state’s electoral rolls.

Replying to a cut motion on voter enrolment and alleged irregularities raised by Opposition members during the ongoing Autumn Session, Sangma said the supplementary demand placed before the House—amounting to around ₹5 lakh—was mainly to cover enhanced remuneration for Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and the maintenance of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), as directed by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The Chief Minister explained that the ECI has proposed a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to address issues of duplication, bogus entries, and non-genuine voters. Unlike a routine summary revision, the SIR will involve house-to-house verification, re-serialisation of polling stations, training of BLOs, public awareness campaigns, and a full cycle of draft roll publication, claims, objections, and appeals before the final roll is released.

Sangma clarified that citizens registered in the 2003 electoral rolls will not be required to submit fresh documents, but those enrolled after January 2003 must provide proof of eligibility.

Acknowledging concerns raised by MLAs Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit and Miani D. Shira, Sangma admitted that migration, urbanisation, and lapses in deletions of outdated entries had left scope for duplication in the voter list.

“It is a difficult and complicated task,” he said, “but we will not allow non-residents or ineligible persons to be included in the electoral rolls. At the same time, we will ensure that genuine citizens are not harassed.”

He assured the House that the state government, in coordination with the ECI, would “do its best to address the genuine concerns” of legislators and citizens through the upcoming special revision.