Non-Locals Can Now Vote In Assembly Polls In J&K
Guwahati: A significant development involves Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Hirdesh Kumar said that non-citizens who are temporarily residing in Jammu and Kashmir for a variety of reasons are eligible to register as voters and participate in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Employees, students, labourers, and anyone else residing in the state are considered non-locals.
“For outsiders to register as voters, a residence requirement is not necessary. The names of military personnel from other states stationed at J&K’s peace stations may also be included to the voter list,” he said.
According to him, over 25 lakh new voters are anticipated to register in the Union Territory as the special summary revision of electoral records is conducted for the first time since Article 370 was repealed.
He added that the electoral rolls will have undergone a special summary revision by November 25.
“The vast effort to complete the process in time is continuing on to ensure that all the eligible voters are enrolled, including those who have acquired the age of 18 years on October 1, 2022, or earlier to offer an error-free final list,” he said.
The BJP is allegedly attempting to enter the state through a back door, according to the opposition.
“GOIs decision to defer polls in J&K preceded by egregious gerrymandering tilting the balance in BJPs favour & now allowing non locals to vote is obviously to influence election results. Real aim is to continue ruling J&K with an iron fist to disempower locals,” PDP president Mehbooba Mufti wrote on Twitter.
Reacting to the development, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tweeted, “Is the BJP so insecure about support from genuine voters of J&K that it needs to import temporary voters to win seats? None of these things will help the BJP when the people of J&K are given a chance to exercise their franchise.”
People’s Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone termed the move as” dangerous” and said it will be” disastrous”.
” This is dangerous. I don’t know what they want to achieve. This is much more than a mischief. Democracy is a relic especially in the context of Kashmir. Please remember 1987. We r yet to come out of that. Don’t replay 1987. It will be as disastrous,” Lone tweeted.