SRINAGAR: The State Election Commission (SEC) is set to finalise a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the smooth conduct of forthcoming District Development Council (DDC) and Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir after concluding a two-day review of poll preparedness.
State Election Commissioner Shantmanu held separate meetings with election officials from Jammu and Kashmir divisions to assess administrative and logistical arrangements for the elections. The exercise focused on preparations for conducting DDC and Panchayat polls, which are proposed to be held simultaneously.
Officials said the Commission is working on a comprehensive SOP to streamline the election process, as voters may have to cast ballots for Panch, Sarpanch and DDC members at the same time. The SOP is expected to outline detailed procedures to ensure smooth and efficient polling.
The SEC is also holding consultations with experienced election officers who supervised the 2020 DDC elections and simultaneous polling on vacant Panchayat seats to incorporate best practices into the final framework.
Jammu and Kashmir has been without elected Panchayats since January 2024, while the tenure of DDCs ended in February 2026. The Commission has recently completed the revision of Panchayat electoral rolls, with the voter count crossing 72.24 lakh across the Union Territory.
The finalisation of the SOP is expected to pave the way for the conduct of long-awaited grassroots elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
