Shillong, Oct 7: Meghalaya has witnessed an increase of nearly 10 lakh voters in the past 20 years, according to figures released by state election office ahead of the Special Electoral Revision (SIR) in the state.
The significant growth in the voter base was recorded by comparing the state’s electoral roll of 2025 with that of 2005 when the last Intensive Revision was conducted in the state.
“The total number of electors in September 2025 stands at 23,06,384 as compared to 13,35,816 in 2005,” Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr BDR Tiwari told reporters on Tuesday.
Thus, the state has recorded an increase of 9,70,568 voters in the past two decades.
Briefing on the state’s preparation for the upcoming SIR, which was undertaken in Bihar recently, Tiwari said the Election Commission of India is in the process of announcing the SIR across the country.
There are four categories of electors to be mapped separately in the SIR.
Category A electors are those whose names are registered in 2005 voter list. They are required to upload/submit only the relevant part of the extract of 2005 voter list along with the enumeration form.
Voters whose names are not found in 2005 voter list and who were born in India prior to 1 July 1987, will be listed under Category B. They are required to upload/submit only self-documents along with the enumeration form.
Category C electors are those who were born between 1 July 1987 and 2 December 2004 and whose mother or father’s name is not registered in the 2005 voter list. They have to upload/submit two documents – self-document and a document of either mother or father.
Electors born after 2 December 2004 and whose mother and father’s name are not registered in 2005 voter list will be listed under Category D. They are required to submit/upload three documents – self-document, mother’s document and father’s document.
The CEO, meanwhile, 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.
Further, the CEO informed that the total number of polling stations after rationalisation stands at 3,615 with a net increase of 64 polling stations.
All polling stations where electors are more than 1,200 per polling station were asked to be rationalised to ease the process of voting and in the State, there are 27 such polling stations.
“Apart from the 27 polling stations, 49 new polling stations are also approved by the ECI as some PS where electors are nearing 1,200, some sections due to hilly terrain and geographical topography, motorable distance and other convenience for the electors,” he said while adding that 12 PS were removed due to merging of male/female PS into general PS after rationalisation.
