Shillong, July 3: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement has expressed concern over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, urging the Election Department to ensure that no eligible indigenous voter is left out during the verification process.

Speaking to reporters on Friday after attending a meeting convened by the Election Department, KHNAM Working President Thomas Passah said the party had examined the SIR guidelines and supports the objective of maintaining a clean and accurate electoral roll. However, he stressed that the exercise must be conducted in a manner that does not exclude genuine voters, particularly indigenous residents.

Passah said the current revision is based on the electoral roll prepared after the 2003 Special Intensive Revision and noted that some voters may encounter difficulties in producing the required supporting documents.

He also raised concerns over reports that enumeration forms were being distributed through political leaders, saying such a practice could create opportunities for political misuse. According to him, the distribution of forms should be carried out solely by officials of the Election Department to ensure transparency, impartiality and public confidence in the process.

The KHNAM leader further observed that indigenous communities have already become minorities in terms of the electorate in certain constituencies. He cautioned that the omission of eligible indigenous voters from the electoral roll could further weaken their political representation.

Passah informed that KHNAM has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer, urging the Election Department to take all necessary measures to ensure that no eligible voter is excluded during the Special Intensive Revision.

He also appealed to all eligible voters to cooperate with the ongoing exercise by submitting the required documents and verifying that their names are included in the electoral roll.