Is EC right in enrolling non-locals in Jammu and Kashmir?

By: Team India Tracker

Hirdesh Kumar, the chief electoral officer for Jammu and Kashmir, recently stated that approximately 25 lakh new voters are anticipated to enroll in the Union Territory, with those “ordinarily” residing in J&K and having achieved the age of 18 or above as on October 1 to be included.

Hirdesh Kumar, the chief electoral officer for Jammu and Kashmir, recently stated that approximately 25 lakh new voters are anticipated to enroll in the voters list of the Union Territory, with those “ordinarily” residing in J&K and having achieved the age of 18 or above as on October 1 to be included. A special summary revision of electoral rolls is being held for the first time in J&K after abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, a precursor to long-awaited elections in the state. All those not enlisted as voters earlier were eligible to vote after the abrogation of Article 370, Kumar said, as provisions of the Representation of the People Act also applied to the UT now.

Also, now there is no need for one to have a domicile certificate or to be a permanent resident to get enlisted as a voter in J&K anymore. This includes employees, students, laborers, and anyone else. Before a decision is made, officials will review their documents, he added. According to the most recent voter list, there are 76 lakh registered voters, compared to a projected 98 lakh people in J&K who are 18 or older. Residents of J&K who are employed by the security forces and stationed outside the Union Territory may register as service voters and use the postal voting option. After hearing the news, political parties in Kashmir reacted angrily, accusing the BJP of tipping the scales in its favor. “Is the BJP so insecure about support from genuine voters of J&K that it needs to import temporary voters to win seats?” National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tweeted. People’s Conference chairman Sajad Lone called the move “dangerous” and “disastrous”. There were sharp reactions from the former chief minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti too.

Considering the recent developments in J&K, TEAM CVOTER- INDIA TRACKER conducted a survey on the elections commission’s decision to include 25 lakh new voters. The question posed to the people was, “About 25 lakh Indians will become first time voters in J&K. Parties like NC and PDP are vehemently protesting the decision. These people are living in J&K for a long time. Do you think this decision by EC is the right one?”

Source: Team Cvoter- India Tracker

Majority (78.80%) of the people are in support of the decision of the Election Commission of India to include 25 lakh first time voters in the voters list. The Upper Caste Hindus strongly responded with a ‘Yes’ as around 87.6% of them are in favor of the election commission’s decision.

Source: Team Cvoter- India Tracker

Out of all the people belonging to different gender, age groups, social backgrounds and ethnicities, locations and voting opinions, the Upper Caste Hindus responded strongly the highest percentage of ‘yes’ and the lowest percentage was recorded among the Muslims as only 55.4% are in favor of the decision of the Election Commission. Around 85% of the NDA voters are in favor of the decision to include 25 lakh first time voters. In the case of opposition voters, 74% are in favor of the notion and 26% are against the EC’s decision. Majority of the youth is in support of the Election Commission’s decision as this will have a direct impact over the youth of J&K. The election in the UT of J&K is expected to witness its highest voter turnout as around 25 lakh first time voters will be added to the voters list.