Shillong: Nearly 1.8 lakh electors in Meghalaya have been identified as absent, shifted, deceased, or duplicate (ASDD) following a comprehensive Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state’s electoral rolls. This significant figure, amounting to 1,80,404 voters, represents 7.68 percent of the total electorate, a senior election official confirmed on Thursday.
Chief Electoral Officer BDR Tiwari detailed the breakdown of these discrepancies, stating that 81,490 electors were found to be deceased. Additionally, 45,013 individuals did not return their enumeration forms, while 42,532 had permanently shifted residences. A further 4,668 electors declined to submit their forms, and 6,701 cases of duplicate enrolments were detected.
The intensive verification process, which involved house-to-house visits by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), commenced on June 30 and concluded on July 29. During this period, BLOs distributed enumeration forms to all eligible voters across the state. Officials noted that Meghalaya achieved 100 percent coverage under the SIR, with all 23,49,645 electors successfully submitting their forms, either physically or digitally.
This thorough revision is a critical exercise aimed at purifying the electoral rolls, ensuring accuracy and preventing potential irregularities in future elections. The completion of this phase marks a crucial step towards maintaining the integrity of the democratic process in the state.
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