Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 7: The Election Commission (EC) has launched a major exercise in Jammu and Kashmir to enroll nearly 5 lakh unregistered voters in the State, who have attained the age of 18 or would be doing so by January 1, 2013.
Official sources said according to latest census data, the population of the State stood at 1.28 crore. Among them, there were about 66 lakh voters.
The data revealed that there were about 5 lakh youth, who despite reaching the age of 18 have not enrolled them as voters so far. There were few thousand other young voters, who would be reaching the age of 18 by January 1, 2013.
The Election Commission in the State has decided that during summary revision of electoral rolls, starting October 1, all these voters would be enrolled.
“We will make our best efforts to ensure that no youth (male or female), who had touched the age of 18 or would reach this age on January 1, 2013, was left out of the enrollment during over month long summary revision of electoral rolls, starting October 1’’, sources said.
Describing enrollment of 5 lakh voters as a “major task’’, sources, however, said that it was not impossible to achieve it as the Election Commission was going to carry out a major drive to make the young voters aware to get them registered as voters.
Sources said if all 5 lakh deserved youth get them enrolled as voters during month long summary revision, number of the voters would surpass 7 million and stand around 71 lakh.
According to data, out of 5 lakh unregistered voters, nearly 3.5 lakh have attained the age of 19 notwithstanding the fact that summary revision of electoral rolls had also been conducted last year when they would have been above 18. “This showed lack of awareness among the youngsters, who would have become voters and got Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) last year’’, sources said.
However, they expressed confidence that the voters would come forward and get them registered during upcoming summary revision of electoral rolls.
To educate the young voters for enrollment, the Election Commission has initiated a new scheme named `SVEEP’ (Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation) under which the Election Commission, district and other concerned officials would visit colleges, schools and other institutions and educated the voters for enrollment.
“A special focus would be laid on womenfolk, who were not coming forward for registration as compared to male eligible voters’’, sources said, adding that the youth can even download the forms from EC’s website www.eci.gov.in and use it for enrollment etc.
Worthwhile to mention here that the summary revision of electoral rolls is due to start on October 1 and would continued till November 1. In addition to enrollment of fresh voters, the Election Commission would also receive application for corrections, update and deletion of records in the electoral rolls.
The fresh electoral rolls would be published on January 5, 2013.
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