Shillong, June 30: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) has called upon all indigenous organisations, political parties, contesting candidates, traditional institutions, youth bodies and every vigilant citizen of Meghalaya to actively participate in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, describing it as a critical constitutional exercise to safeguard the democratic and political rights of the indigenous people of the State.
CoMSO Chairman Roy Kupar Synrem said that 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. “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,” he stated.
He observed that indigenous organisations have consistently voiced concerns over illegal immigration, demographic changes and the possibility of non-genuine voters finding their way into the electoral rolls.
The SIR, therefore, provides a lawful and transparent mechanism to verify electoral records, remove duplicate and deceased voters, rectify anomalies and ensure that only legally eligible electors remain on the rolls.
CoMSO appealed to every Dorbar Shnong, Nokma, traditional institution, village authority, community leader and polling area to remain vigilant throughout 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 organisation further urged all political parties and candidates to rise above partisan interests and work collectively to protect the integrity of the electoral rolls, emphasising that this issue concerns the constitutional rights of every indigenous citizen rather than any political party.
“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,” Synrem added.
