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Jammu and Kashmir Electoral Director Hirdesh Kumar said on Wednesday that around 25 lakh new voters are expected to be registered in the Union Territory as the special summary review of electoral lists takes place for the first time after the repeal of Article 370 in 2019.
He also described the ongoing exercise to complete the special summary review of voter lists by November 25 as a "challenging task."
'The massive exercise to complete the process on time is underway to ensure that all eligible voters, including those who turned 18 on or before October 1, 2022, are registered to provide a final "error-free" list,' Kumar said.
Non-locals can vote in Jammu & Kashmir
According to the rescheduled schedule recently issued by the electoral commission, a draft integrated voter list will be published on September 15. While, the period for filing claims and objections is set between September 15 and October 25. Followed by the disposition of claims and objections on November 10.
"After the abrogation of Article 370, many people who were not enlisted as voters in the erstwhile state of J&K are now eligible to vote and in addition, anyone who is living ordinarily can also avail the opportunity to get enlisted as a voter in J&K in accordance with the provisions of representation of the Peoples Act," Kumar told reporters here.
Hirdesh Kumar
Electoral Director, Jammu & Kashmir
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"Likewise those from different parts of the country who are posted here have the option that if they are posted in a peace station they can enlist themselves as voters. Jammu is a peace station and anyone from outside posted in armed forces in the city can avail the option to enlist as a voter," he said.
He said that the projected population of J&K who are over 18 years old is around 98 lakhs while the number of registered voters is 76 lakhs according to the latest voter list.
"We expect an addition of 20-25 lakh new voters to the final list," Kumar said, adding that booth-level officers, voter registration officers, assistant voter registration officers and district election officers have been sensitized to ensure that the final list will be "error-free" and will also cover all eligible voters.
Kumar said a person does not need to have a J&K address certificate to become a voter. "An employee, a student, a worker or any outside person who normally lives in J&K, can put their name on the voting list. The documents will be examined by the interested government officials, who will make a decision after being satisfied with the claim."
He said that, as in the past, many J&K residents who work in the military and paramilitary forces and are stationed outside of the Union Territory have the option to register as service voters and can take advantage of the vote-by-mail option to register your choice at election time.
"Similarly, those from different parts of the country who are stationed here have the option that if they are stationed in a peace station, they can enlist as voters. Jammu is a peace station and anyone from outside assigned to the forces armed women in the city can take advantage of the option to register as a voter," he said.
He said that after the delimitation commission submitted its report on May 5 and the trade union law ministry implemented the report on May 20, the number of seats in the assembly in J&K increased to 90.
He said that after the delimitation commission submitted its report on May 5 and the union law ministry implemented the report on May 20, the number of seats in the assembly in J&K increased to 90. "All 90 constituencies have witnessed some kind of change, they are currently mapping old constituencies with new constituencies and it will be followed by the Special Summary Review (SSR)," Kumar said, expressing satisfaction with the pre-SSR activities in grade.
He said that 600 polling stations have been added and now the total number of polling stations in Jammu and Kashmir has increased to 11,370. Kumar said the commission plans to hold door-to-door campaigns and also organize special camps at educational institutions to raise awareness among eligible voters.
On the holding of assembly elections, he said that the Electoral Commission of India is the authority that can make a decision on the timing of the elections. The electoral director said that provisions have been made in the modified registration forms to link the Aadhaar number with the electoral roll data, which is aimed at establishing the identity of voters and authenticating the entries in the electoral roll. He said the commission will issue new voter ID cards that will have new security features.
Regarding Kashmiri immigrants residing outside the valley, he said that there is already a special provision for this displaced population that allows them to exercise their right to vote.
"They (immigrant Kashmiri Pandits) are registered as voters in their home constituencies. Special camps are being organized for them in different places including Delhi, Jammu and Udhampur for new voter registration and all of them will be given voter cards" he said. He dismissed the idea that Rohingya Muslims, who have taken refuge in Jammu and elsewhere, could register as voters. "We have officers on site and they know their duty."
Is there same rule in other states?
No one can vote in two or more states in India at the same time because India has a unique system of citizenship i.e. national citizenship. If a person votes for two states, then it is totally illegal. A person will be allowed to vote in only one legislative election at a time.
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Generally, a person can only be enrolled where he/she resides. Incase, you have relocated, you must complete 'Form 8A' which allows you to change from one place of residence to another the same electoral district. The EC has said that a person cannot vote from their place of origin just because they have a house there and immigrants have to register in the place where they reside.
- You must complete the form that will include details such as your name, and current address of your habitual residence where you have moved.
- The request must be addressed to the Electoral Registry Officer of the constituency in which the transposition of the corresponding registration is required.
- All data to be filled out and sent to the Electoral Registry office.
- The form can be obtained at the Voter Registrar's Office/ERO Assistant/designated locations/authorized centers.
- After submission, the application will be verified by the electoral officer, and on successful verification, your name will be included in the new place.
Local political parties' criticism
Former J&K Chief Minister and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah tweeted,
Former Chief Minister and People's Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti also echoed Omar's opinion.
Meanwhile, People's Conference President Sajid Lone also expressed his concerns over the decision of the EC.
Pertinently, during a press conference in Jammu on Wednesday, the Chief Electoral Officer said that non-locals, including paramilitary personnel, government employees, labourers, etc., can vote in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir elections.
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