SRINAGAR: The Election Commission of India is set to release the final electoral rolls on January 8 after completing a four-month-long special summary revision exercise. A virtual review of Lok Sabha election preparedness in Jammu and Kashmir took place, with Deputy Commissioners and SSPs of the UT participating from New Delhi, reported local English daily The Excelsior.
While Chief Electoral Officer PK Pole compiles the final data, the preliminary reports suggest approximately 8.7 million eligible voters for the five Lok Sabha seats, with elections scheduled for April-May. The final list is expected to detail constituency-wise electorates for the two and a half seats in each division of Jammu and Kashmir, according to sources cited by the report in The Excelsior.
This marks the third Summary Revision in Jammu and Kashmir following the completion of the delimitation exercise for Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies in 2022. The first revision was swiftly ordered after delimitation, with final electoral rolls published on November 25, 2022, reflecting a voter count of 83.59 lakh. Another revision in March 2023 resulted in rolls being published on May 27, 2023, with the total electorate standing at 85 lakh.
The ongoing Special Summary Revision, initiated in September alongside other States/UTs, is expected to conclude with the publication of final voter lists on January 8, projecting a voter count of around 87 lakh in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Election Commission, in a virtual review with CEO PK Pole, Deputy Commissioners, and SSPs from New Delhi, focused on preparedness for Lok Sabha elections, particularly the training of staff in handling Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and VVPATs. Security arrangements for the upcoming Parliamentary polls in Jammu and Kashmir are likely to be specifically reviewed by the Election Commission in January-February to ensure peaceful elections for all five seats.
Paramilitary forces and police resources will be utilized for the five-phase polls in Jammu and Kashmir, with one seat going to polls in each phase. After the separation of the Ladakh division, Jammu and Kashmir now have five Lok Sabha seats – Jammu, Udhampur, Srinagar, Baramulla, and Anantnag-Poonch. BJP currently holds Jammu and Udhampur seats, while NC holds three seats in the Kashmir division. Additional meetings are expected this month to further review the preparedness for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
