Shillong, October 7: Meghalaya’s voter base has swelled by over 9 lakhs in the past 20 years, according to Chief Electoral Officer BDR Tiwari.
He revealed this significant growth while comparing the 2025 electoral rolls with the previous intensive revision conducted in 2005. The earlier electoral roll was published on April 15, 2005.
The total number of electors in September 2025 stands at 23,06,384 as compared to 13,35,816 in 2005, marking a significant increase by 9 lakh, Tiwari said today while addressing the media on the preparation for the pre-activities of the upcoming Special Intensive Revision, which was recently undertaken in the state of Bihar, and the Election Commission of India is in the process of announcing across the country.
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The breakdown for September 2025 shows 11,37,316 male electors and 11,69,062 female electors. In contrast, the numbers for 2005 were 6,64,306 male electors and 6,71,510 female electors. Notably, there are six third-gender electors as of September 2025, whereas there were none in 2005.
He said four categories of electors have been mapped according to the Special Intensive Revision. These include category A electors whose names are registered in the 2005 voter list are required to upload or submit only the relevant part of the extract of the 2005 voter list along with the enumeration form. Category B electors whose names are not found in the 2005 voter list and who were born in India before July 1, 1987, are required to upload or submit only self-document along with the enumeration form. Category C electors who were born between July 1, 1987, and December 2, 2004, and whose mother or father’s name is not registered in the 2005 voter list are required to upload or submit two documents – self document and a document of either mother or father. Category D – electors who were born after December 2, 2004, and whose mother and father’s name are not registered in the 2005 voter list are required to submit or upload three documents – self document, mother’s document and father’s document.
Tiwari also informed that the Election Commission of India has announced that Aadhaar cards will be accepted as valid identity proof for voter registration, in addition to the existing 11 documents. This decision comes after the Supreme Court’s directive to include Aadhaar as a proof of identity.
The Aadhaar card will be treated as the 12th document for voter registration purposes, he added.
The total number of polling stations after rationalisation stands at 3,615 with a net increase of 64 polling stations.
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All polling stations where electors are more than 1,200 per polling station were asked to be rationalised to ease the process of voting. In the State, there are 27 such polling stations.
Apart from the 27 polling stations, 49 new polling stations are also approved by the Election Commission as some polling stations had electors nearing 1,200, and some sections required new stations due to hilly terrain, geographical topography, motorable distance and other convenience for the electors. Twelve polling stations were removed due to merging of male or female polling stations into general polling stations after rationalisation.
(Newmai News Network)