J&K to hold 3 major elections this financial year: CEO

Referring to assembly elections, CEO Pole said there was a “vacuum” in J&K which needs to be fulfilled.

| Updated: 24 April, 2023 4:02 pm IST

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Srinagar: Three major elections will take place in Jammu and Kashmir this financial year, including panchayat, urban local bodies, and Lok Sabha elections, as per the state election commission.

The panchayats and municipalities are set to complete their five-year term in October-November of this year, while the Lok Sabha polls are scheduled for April-May of next year, according to CEO PK Pole.

There has been an increase in the number of polling stations in Jammu and Kashmir, which has risen to 11,370, and some auxiliary polling stations may be set up where the number of voters exceeds 1400 for the next Lok Sabha elections, he said.

Meanwhile, assembly polls are also due.

In an interview with a local newspaper, the CEO stated that 19,000 each ballot units, control units, and VVPATs with updated versions will be used for the Lok Sabha polls.

The election commission has undertaken major reforms, including allowing youth who turn 18 years of age on January 1st, April, July, and October, to enroll as voters well in advance, and women who have married and shifted from one place to another, to be registered during Special Summary Revision.

He added that the election commission has made arrangements for persons with disabilities, and citizens above 80, so that they can vote with ease. Also, the maximum number of Kashmiri migrant voters, after Jammu, is in New Delhi, and an AERO (assistant electoral registration officer) has been designated there to help them with registration.

Separate revision of the electoral rolls has to be carried out for panchayat polls, while for urban local bodies, the rolls can be extracted from the general Summary Revision, according to the CEO.

CEO Pole reassured that the ongoing Special Summary Revision will not impact the schedule of assembly elections, and mentioned that there is a vacuum in Jammu and Kashmir that needs to be filled.