Srinagar Aug 20 :- Amid a row over the inclusion of non-local voters in Jammu and Kashmir electoral rolls, the administration on Saturday clarified that no change has been made in the special provisions for Kashmiri migrants for their enrolment in the electoral rolls of their original native constituencies.
An order issued by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) said that Kashmiri migrants will continue to be given option of voting at their place of enrolment or through postal ballot or through specially-setup polling stations at Jammu, Udhampur, Delhi, etc.
It further clarified that there is no change in rules regarding buying of property and jobs in the government of Union territory of J&K and have no link to representation of voters or otherwise.
The order stated that summary revision of electoral rolls are undertaken by Election Commission from time to time according to laid down process. “This is to enable young persons who become eligible to register themselves as voters. Besides, it also allows a person who has changed his ordinary place of residence to enrol at new location by getting himself deleted at the old location,” it read.
It further said that the number of electors as published in special summary revision of J&K in 2011 was 66,00,921 and it has now increased to 76,02,397. “This increase is mainly due to the new voters, who attained the age of 18 years.”
The administration refuted media reports which claimed that more than 25 lakh additions will be there in the electoral rolls once the process of electoral roll revision starts.
“This is a misrepresentation of facts, which is being spread by the vested interests. This revision of electoral rolls will cover existing residents of the UT of J&K and increase in numbers will be of the voters who have attained the age of 18 years as on 1.10.2022 or earlier,” it stressed.
Jammu and Kashmir Union Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Hirdesh Kumar on Wednesday said non-locals can now vote in the Assembly elections in the Union Territory after the special summary revision of electoral rolls being held for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370.
National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah has convened an all-party meeting on August 22 over the issue of inclusion of outside voters in Jammu and Kashmir electoral rolls.
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