86,000 deleted, 1.45 lakh corrected
Elector population, gender ratio improve
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 22: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Jammu and Kashmir PK Pole today published final electoral rolls of the Union Territory after hectic four-month long Special Summary Revision leading to addition of 2.31 lakh new voters taking total number of electorates to 86.93 lakh.
Among 86.93 voters in Jammu and Kashmir, there are 44.35 lakh male and 42.58 lakh females.
Excelsior had earlier exclusively reported that electorates of Jammu and Kashmir have reached close to 87 lakh after Special Summary Revision.
The final electoral rolls were today published by CEO J&K PK Pole leading to culmination of four-month long Special Summary Revision.
The 86.93 lakh voters besides those who are enrolled afresh will be eligible to exercise their right to franchise in upcoming Lok Sabha elections for five seats of Jammu and Kashmir. The polls are scheduled to be held in April-May this year. There are 90 Assembly seats in J&K.
Besides Assembly, the elections to Urban Local Bodies, Panchayats and Block Development Councils are due in the UT. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha recently stated that local elections will be held after completion of formalities for granting reservation to Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
“After Special Summary Revision, 2.31 lakh new voters have been added to the electoral rolls while 86,000 names were deleted from the lists because of death, shifting etc,” an official statement released by PK Pole’s office this evening, said.
It added that details of 1.45 lakh electors were corrected.
As of now, Jammu and Kashmir has 86.93 lakh voters including 44.35 lakh male and 42.58 lakh females. The elector population ratio has improved from 0.59 to 0.60 and gender ratio from 924 to 954.
As per the official statement, four Special AEROs held camps to cover eligible voters of Kashmiri migrants in their areas. The process was supervised by the Relief and rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants). An endeavour was made to cover Specially abled persons and elders above the age of 80 years so as to mark them on electoral rolls.
“Weaker and vulnerable sections such as Nomads, women and third gender etc were given sufficient attention. Weekly status of disposal of claims and objections was put in public domain. Efforts were made to make the electoral rolls healthy,” the statement said and added that despite holding special meeting and writing letters, few Booth Level Agents were appointed by the parties.
However, the pro-active involvement of Panchayati Raj Institute members and other village level functionaries was received, it said.
To supervise and closely monitor the entire process, the CEO office had appointed four Special Cell Observers in addition to the two Divisional Commissioners. The Roll Observers visited offices of EROs, Polling Booths and attended special camps. During their field visit and table top exercise, they conveyed necessary directions to make the process complying with directions of the Election Commissioners.
The statement said that the EROs as per detailed directions of the Election Commission of India accepted claims and objections and following due process decided on them by January 12, 2024. They also dealt Demographically Similar Entries and Photo Similar Entries at the part and AC level.