Jammu, 23-08-2024: In a significant move to ensure ease of voting for Kashmiri migrants in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election 2024, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 24 special polling stations across Jammu, Udhampur, and New Delhi. This initiative marks a continuation of the efforts seen in the recent Lok Sabha Election, where similar measures were introduced to simplify the voting process for displaced individuals from the Kashmir Valley.
For migrants residing in Jammu and Udhampur, the previously mandatory Form-M, which was required to be filled out to vote, has been eliminated. This decision removes a significant administrative burden for these voters, allowing them to participate in the electoral process without the hassle of completing additional documentation. For those migrants living outside Jammu and Udhampur, who still need to submit Form-M, the ECI has introduced a provision allowing for self-attestation of the certificate attached to Form-M, removing the requirement for attestation by a gazetted officer. This change is expected to make the voting process more accessible and less cumbersome for Kashmiri migrants living in other parts of the country.
The Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, confirmed these developments in a statement released on Friday. According to the statement, Kashmiri migrant voters who have opted to vote in person using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) can do so at 24 specially designated polling stations, with 19 located in Jammu, 1 in Udhampur, and 4 in New Delhi.
In Jammu, the polling stations are spread across various locations, including the Government College for Women in Gandhi Nagar, the Indian Institute of Management on Canal Road, and the Directorate of Economics & Statistics in Janipur, among others. Additionally, a polling station has been set up at the Government ITI in Udhampur to cater to the migrant voters in that region.
For Kashmiri migrants residing in New Delhi, four special polling booths have been established at key locations, including the J&K House on Prithviraj Road, the Office of the Deputy Director, Horticulture, Planning and Marketing in Shalimar Bagh, Arwachin International School in Dilshad Garden, and the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Paprawat. These polling stations are designed to facilitate the participation of migrants in the electoral process without requiring them to travel back to Jammu and Kashmir.
The decision to eliminate the requirement of Form-M for migrant voters in Jammu and Udhampur builds on the historic precedent set during the Lok Sabha Election 2024. Migrant electors living in these zones and camps will be mapped to their respective polling stations by the Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) in Jammu and Udhampur, ensuring a smooth voting process. The draft roll extracts mapping these electors to the designated polling stations will be published soon, allowing for any necessary additions, deletions, or corrections over a seven-day period. Following this, the final photo electoral roll extracts will be published, which will serve as the basis for allowing migrant voters to cast their ballots at these special polling stations by presenting their Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) or any of the 12 alternate photo identity documents recognized by the ECI.
For migrants residing outside Jammu and Udhampur, the ECI has simplified the process of filling out Form-M by allowing self-certification, thereby removing the need for attestation by a gazetted officer. Voters in this category who wish to vote in person must submit their Form-M, detailing the electors in their families, to the relevant authorities, including the Assistant Commissioner, Relief (Migrant) in Jammu, the Assistant Commissioner, Panchayat in Udhampur, and the Deputy Director, Horticulture, Planning and Marketing in Delhi.
In addition to in-person voting, migrant voters who do not wish to vote at the special polling stations have the option to vote via postal ballot. They can apply for a postal ballot using Form 12C, available at the offices of the Assistant Returning Officers. Migrants living in locations other than Jammu, Udhampur, and Delhi can also download Form-M and Form 12C from the ECI website. Once completed, these forms can be verified by the Electoral Registration Officer in the area where the voter resides.
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election 2024 will be conducted across 90 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) in three phases. The first phase, scheduled for September 18, will cover 16 ACs in the Kashmir region, including Pampore, Tral, Pulwama, and Shopian. The second phase, on September 25, will involve 15 ACs, including Kangan, Ganderbal, Hazratbal, and Budgam. The third and final phase, on October 1, will see 16 ACs go to the polls, including Karnah, Kupwara, Handwara, and Baramulla. This phased approach is expected to facilitate a smoother electoral process across the region, ensuring that all eligible voters, including Kashmiri migrants, have the opportunity to participate in this important democratic exercise.