Non-locals in J&K can apply for voter card: Chief Electoral Officer

The chief electoral officer of Jammu and Kashmir, Hirdesh Kumar, said on Wednesday that all non-locals ordinarily staying in the Union Territory for jobs, education, business or labour purposes can get their voter identity cards here and vote in the next assembly elections.

He also said as per the projected population of people above the age of 18 in J&K, there is likely to be an increase of 2.5 million voters in the final electoral rolls. “After abrogation of Article 370 many people who couldn’t vote here can vote now. A person should be ordinarily residing in the UT for job, education, labour or business purposes. There is no need to be a permanent resident for voting anymore. Many such votes will be added to the voter list,” Kumar said at a press meet in Jammu.



Kumar said there are many people, such as those in the armed forces and paramilitary, who don’t live in J&K but who can register for voting in the UT now. “Many people from outside who work here can vote here and make voter cards... But they can only vote at one place at a time in the country. They have to get delisted from the voter lists of their native places,” he said.

Similarly, residents of J&K working outside can register here as voters. Kumar urged youngsters attaining the age of 18 on October 1 or earlier to become part of the voters’ list. He said the draft roll will be published on September 15 and that claims and objections are to be filed between September 15 and October 25. The final publication of the reviewed electoral rolls in the UT will be done on November 25th.

Political parties in J&K termed the decision to make non-locals eligible for voting in J&K “dangerous” and said it amounted to “gerrymandering in favour of the BJP”. “Is the BJP so insecure about support from genuine voters of J&K that it needs to import temporary voters to win seats,” asked former CM Omar Abdullah, leader of the National Conference.

PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said: “GoI’s decision to defer polls in J&K preceded by egregious gerrymandering tilting the balance in BJP’s favour and now allowing non-locals to vote is obviously to influence election results.”

People’s Conference’s Sajad Lone said: “This is much more than a mischief. Democracy is a relic, especially in the context of Kashmir. Please remember 1987. Don’t replay 1987. It will be as disastrous.”