SHILLONG: The District Administration of East Khasi Hills is set to launch a massive house-to-house enumeration drive starting June 30 to implement the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). This major initiative aims to verify the names of eligible voters currently registered in the electoral rolls across all assembly constituencies within the district.
Speaking to media persons on Monday, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal earnestly appealed to all citizens and voters to cooperate actively and take the verification process seriously. The month-long intensive drive will commence on June 30 and continue until July 29.
Baranwal explained that the door-to-door survey is being conducted by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) following direct directives from the Election Commission of India (ECI).
A dedicated team of 1,021 BLOs will visit households in every constituency across the entire East Khasi Hills district to distribute pre-filled Self-Enumeration Forms containing the existing details of voters from the 2025 electoral roll. The public is requested to check, properly fill out, and return these forms to their respective BLOs.
The Deputy Commissioner urged the public to actively participate in the survey without fear or apprehension, reiterating that the underlying objective of the exercise is inclusive. He emphasized that the primary goal of the Special Intensive Revision is to ensure that no genuine, eligible voter is left out, and definitely not to randomly delete names. Instead, the focus is entirely on cleaning, rectifying, and streamlining the existing electoral rolls to make them completely accurate and error-free.
Detailing the protocol, the Deputy Commissioner clarified that voters do not need to provide identity documents during the initial house-to-house enumeration process. The immediate task for residents is simply to fill out the self-enumeration forms correctly and hand them back to the visiting BLO. Supporting documents will only be requested in specific, rare instances where further clarification is needed.
While the Election Commission has provided an exemplary list of 11 valid identity documents, the administration clarified that verification is not rigidly restricted to these options alone. The Deputy Commissioner has issued clear directives to all BLOs to accept any supporting document submitted by voters, including certificates issued by churches, local village headmen (Rangbah Shnong), or any other relevant official credentials.
The final decision regarding a voter’s eligibility will rest with the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) after a thorough scrutiny of all submitted papers.
Following the conclusion of the door-to-door enumeration phase, a one-month window will be opened for public claims and objections. Following that phase, the EROs will take another month to review and decide on all applications before the administration publishes the Final Electoral Roll on October 7, 2026.
The Deputy Commissioner further noted that the 2005 Electoral Roll is being used as the base benchmark for this extensive verification process, given that it was the last time the Election Commission of India carried out a comprehensive revision of the electoral rolls on a national scale.
To ensure convenient access, citizens can also choose to fill out the self-enumeration forms digitally via the official website of the Election Commission of India. For guidance or assistance, residents can contact their respective BLOs or call the ECI’s national toll-free helpline number 1950. Additionally, the District Administration has set up two dedicated local helpline numbers—0364-2501255 and 0364-2501228—to assist the public with any queries.
Furthermore, the Deputy Commissioner reached out to all eligible youth who have reached 18 years of age but are not yet registered, encouraging them to fill out Form 6 to enroll themselves as new voters. BLOs will also actively identify such unregistered eligible youths during their house visits.
The administration clarified that this particular SIR drive is specifically designed to verify voters who are already established residents of Meghalaya. Individuals migrating from other states who wish to transfer their voting rights to Meghalaya must fill out Form 8, which will be subject to separate scrutiny under established rules.
Addressing concerns regarding deletions, the Deputy Commissioner assured that names will only be removed from the electoral roll in valid, legally prescribed cases, such as individuals who have deceased, permanently shifted residence, possess duplicate entries, or are found to be ineligible under the law.
To minimize public anxiety and promote transparency, the District Administration has already held multiple consultative meetings with local village headmen (Rangbah Shnong) and community representatives to explain the exact nature and purpose of this survey.
Concluding his address, the Deputy Commissioner reiterated his call for public cooperation with the government, reassuring the public that no rightful voter will be disenfranchised. He expressed the administration’s readiness to address public doubts, stating that officials are happy to answer the same questions repeatedly to ensure that every single eligible voter completes the process smoothly and without any hassle.
