By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: Arunachal Pradesh is expected to face a complex voter verification exercise as the Election Commission of India prepares to carry out a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across the state.
The exercise is likely to rely heavily on digital scrutiny, with automated systems and data-based verification expected to play a major role in determining voter eligibility. As a result, issues related to identity proof, residential records and document inconsistencies may emerge as major concerns.
Aadhaar-EPIC linkage is expected to become one of the most sensitive aspects of the exercise. Although Aadhaar is widely required for accessing government services and identity verification, many residents in the state still do not possess the document despite official enrolment claims.
Document inconsistencies among existing Aadhaar holders may also create complications. Many Arunachal residents study or work outside their home districts and often register Aadhaar using their current place of stay while remaining enrolled as voters in their native constituencies.
Differences between Aadhaar data and electoral records could therefore create verification hurdles during the revision process, raising concerns that excessive dependence on digital matching systems may unintentionally result in the deletion of genuine voters.
For many legitimate voters, establishing proof of local residence may become difficult. Even though Arunachal Pradesh has a smaller electorate compared to larger states, the scale of physical verification and documentation work is still expected to be substantial, placing significant responsibility on booth-level officers (BLOs).
Another sensitive issue relates to residents who are legally recognised as Indian citizens but do not possess adequate state-issued documents.
Changlang district is expected to remain particularly sensitive because of the presence of Chakma and Hajong refugees, many of whom continue to remain outside the state’s voting structure.
Despite holding Indian citizenship status, sections of these communities are still excluded from the electoral system amid continuing opposition from indigenous groups against granting them broader citizenship-linked rights in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Election Commission’s final approach on the matter is likely to be closely monitored, as both large-scale inclusion and exclusion could trigger political and social reactions.
Political parties have also been asked to appoint booth-level agents (BLAs) across polling stations as part of the revision drive.
However, this may prove difficult in Arunachal Pradesh, where several parties lack the organisational network and manpower required to cover every booth.
Authorities may therefore depend more on village institutions, women’s organisations and local community bodies for assistance during the verification process. Residents without fixed address records, despite being permanent inhabitants of the state, may also face difficulties.
Similar exercises conducted in Bihar and West Bengal had earlier triggered concerns over voter exclusions linked to address verification and documentation problems, particularly among migrant populations living in urban constituencies and district headquarters.
Although voter roll revisions are routinely conducted across India, officials believe Arunachal Pradesh may avoid the level of disorder witnessed elsewhere if adequate time is provided and the process is handled carefully.
However, doubts remain over whether the administrative machinery is fully equipped to manage an exercise of this scale.
Teachers and other government employees are also expected to be heavily involved in the process, raising concerns over whether they will be able to manage both official duties and academic responsibilities simultaneously.
Critics further argue that even physical verification may not always guarantee inclusion in the final electoral rolls.
For that reason, the SIR exercise could become a major administrative challenge not only for officials and field workers, but also for ordinary voters attempting to secure their place in the electoral list.
Observers believe Arunachal Pradesh requires a more carefully tailored approach because of its protected status, border sensitivities and unique indigenous social structure.