Shillong: In line with Election Commission of India (ECI) directions, Meghalaya is setting up an adequate number of help desks and special camps for homeless people, those living in night shelters, labourers, economically disadvantaged people and other vulnerable sections to facilitate electoral registration.Chief electoral officer (CEO) BDR Tiwari has directed all district election officers (DEOs) to assess local requirements and make arrangements to ensure eligible citizens who need assistance are not left out of the electoral process.Tiwari held a virtual review meeting with deputy commissioners/DEOs, electoral registration officers (EROs), assistant electoral registration officers (AEROs) and other election officials to review progress of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026 across the state.“So far, 910 electors have been found ineligible for the final electoral roll after the prescribed process, while 19,07,182 electors from the draft electoral roll have been parked for final publication,” an official statement said on Tuesday.“The CEO directed all DEOs, EROs and AEROs to closely monitor the remaining cases and ensure their timely disposal while safeguarding the right of every concerned elector to a fair and reasonable opportunity,” the statement said.CEO also directed DEOs, EROs, AEROs and booth level officers (BLOs) to ensure the directions are implemented effectively so that electors — particularly senior citizens, persons with disabilities and those who face difficulty travelling to ERO/AERO offices — are facilitated.CEO reiterated that “No Mapping”, a mapping discrepancy or receipt of a notice does not, by itself, lead to deletion of an elector’s name, and that each case must be handled according to the prescribed procedure and latest ECI directions.Political parties have appointed 1,814 booth level agents (BLAs) — 736 by the NPP, 186 by the INC, 121 by the UDP, 320 by the VPP, 393 by the BJP and 58 by the AITC.ECI has reiterated that eligible people whose names are left out during the SIR or later, as well as young and first-time voters, can apply to the concerned ERO for inclusion in the electoral roll through the continuous updation process.CEO said this provision should be widely publicised so eligible citizens understand electoral registration continues after completion of the SIR.With the claims and objections period in Meghalaya having concluded on Sept 18, CEO directed election officials to focus on the remaining statutory processes leading to preparation and final publication of the electoral roll.CEO also urged every elector to check and confirm their name in the final electoral roll after publication. “Name must be included in the electoral roll in force to be eligible to vote. Possession of an EPIC alone does not entitle an elector to vote if his or her name is not included,” CEO said.
