As elections in Jammu Kashmir continue to be deferred for one reason after the other, the Jammu Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Hridesh Kumar Singh on Wednesday said that the final voter lists in Jammu Kashmir will be released on November 25, 2022.
After the report of the Delimitation Commission was implemented in Jammu Kashmir, the number of assembly seats has gone up to 90.
With the increase in the number of assembly seats, there has been a massive change in the existing electoral rolls and now the voter lists are being prepared according to the new framework.
Sources informed that the process of preparation of voter lists is underway throughout Jammu Kashmir, however, it was halted in view of the August 15 preparations in Jammu Kashmir. Earlier a poll panel had given a timeline of October 31 for the publication of the finalized electoral rolls in JK, however, the date was extended by 25 days.
According to the rescheduled timeline issued by the Election Commission, an integrated draft electoral roll will be published on September 15.
“New polling stations are coming up across Jammu Kashmir and the number of polling stations has been finalized at 11,370,” Sources said.
They said that Camps will be organised during the summary revision across Jammu Kashmir from September 15 to 25 October in Jammu Kashmir where people can register themselves as voters.
The voter lists will be linked with Aadhaar cards and Voter ID cards with new security standards will be issued to the voters, they informed. “Voters who will be of 18 years of age on 1 October 2022 or who have attained the age of 18 years before that can get their names included in the voter lists during this period,” Sources told.
“Those who are registering as new voters can apply filling form 6. Form 7 is for deceased citizens whose named have to be cancelled from the voters list. Form 8 is for those who want corrections in electoral details,” they said.
Interestingly, the election commissioner Hridesh Kumar Singh has said those who are temporarily residing in Jammu Kashmir can vote by getting their names included in the voters’ lists. “Non-Locals residing in Jammu Kashmir for work purpose, labour or studying in Jammu Kashmir can also vote. They can also register as voters online,” Hardesh Kumar Singh said.
The Election Commissioner clarified that there was no bar for voting for non-locals. “It does not matter how long one has been staying in Jammu Kashmir. The ERO will take the final call on whether the non local has been residing in Jammu Kashmir or not. Those living here on rent can also vote,” the election Commissioner said.
He said that the only condition to get included in the voters list is that the person should have cancelled his/her voter registration from his/her native state.
Around 20 to 25 lakh new voters will be included in the voters’ list.