Jammu and Kashmir Gears Up for Lok Sabha Elections with 8.7 Million Eligible Voters

Jammu, 03-01-2024: The Election Commission conducted a thorough assessment of the state’s readiness for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, engaging Deputy Commissioners and SSPs virtually from New Delhi. The culmination of the nearly four-month-long Special Summary Revision exercise is imminent, with the final electoral rolls slated for publication on January 8. Preliminary reports suggest that approximately 8.7 million voters will be eligible to exercise their right to franchise in the scheduled April-May elections for the five Lok Sabha seats. The final list will delineate constituency-wise electorates across the Jammu and Kashmir divisions, representing the culmination of the third Summary Revision following the delimitation of Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies in 2022.

The ongoing additions to the voter registry, primarily comprising individuals attaining the age of 18, contribute to the dynamic nature of the electoral rolls even after their final publication. The Election Commission’s virtual review with the Chief Electoral Officer and top officials covered various aspects, with a notable emphasis on training staff in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs). The subsequent physical review in New Delhi focused on poll preparedness. Security arrangements for the Parliamentary polls are slated for a specific review in January-February, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation to guarantee peaceful elections across all five seats.

The strategic utilization of paramilitary forces and police resources is pivotal for the efficient conduct of the five-phase polls in Jammu and Kashmir, where each seat undergoes polling in a dedicated phase. The post-delimitation scenario left Jammu and Kashmir with five Lok Sabha seats, namely Jammu, Udhampur, Srinagar, Baramulla, and Anantnag-Poonch, reflecting a nuanced distribution between Jammu and Kashmir divisions.

While the BJP secured victories in Jammu and Udhampur in the past two terms (2014 and 2019), the NC currently holds three seats in the Kashmir division. Anticipating the imminent elections, officials project a series of meetings this month to further scrutinize and enhance the state’s preparedness for the Lok Sabha elections.