Shillong, June 30: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) on Tuesday called on indigenous groups, political parties, traditional heads and citizens to join the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying the exercise is crucial to protecting the constitutional and political rights of indigenous people in the state.
CoMSO chairman Roy Kupar Synrem, in a statement, stressed that the SIR is more than a routine update of voter lists.
“The SIR should not be treated as a routine electoral exercise but as a rare opportunity to ensure that the electoral rolls remain free from ineligible or doubtful entries,” he said.
He warned that the credibility of democracy rests on clean voter lists.
“The purity of the electoral roll is the foundation of democracy. If the voters’ list is compromised, the very legitimacy of the democratic process is weakened,” Synrem stated.
According to CoMSO, indigenous organisations have repeatedly flagged illegal immigration, shifting demographics, and the risk of non-genuine names appearing in the rolls.
The SIR, Synrem said, offers a legal and transparent way to verify records, delete duplicates and deceased voters, fix errors, and confirm that only eligible electors are listed.
The confederation asked Dorbar Shnongs, Nokmas, village authorities, community leaders and polling areas to closely monitor the verification process.
“As those most familiar with their localities, they have a vital role in identifying doubtful claims, duplicate entries and other irregularities through the legal process while also ensuring that no genuine indigenous voter is wrongly excluded,” the release said.
CoMSO also appealed to political parties and contesting candidates to set aside political differences.
“This issue concerns the constitutional rights of every indigenous citizen rather than any political party,” Synrem said, urging collective action to safeguard the rolls.
“This is a shared responsibility. The future political representation of the indigenous communities depends upon the accuracy and credibility of the electoral rolls. Every eligible citizen must cooperate with the authorities and remain vigilant so that the electoral rolls truly reflect the genuine electorate of Meghalaya,” he added.
