Jammu and Kashmir Election: The entire controversy and politics of the voter list of Jammu and Kashmir, the rules changed with the abolition of Article 370

The politics of Jammu and Kashmir has become very hot. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Hridayesh Kumar announced on August 17 that every citizen living in Jammu and Kashmir can register and vote as a voter in Jammu and Kashmir as per rules. Earlier, under Article 370, only the permanent citizens of Jammu and Kashmir (state subjects) had the right to vote in the assembly elections. Citizens of other states living in the state could also vote in the Lok Sabha elections. After the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir, the Representation of the People Act 1951 has come into force like other states of the country and elections will be held here under this. According to this, every citizen of the country above the age of 18 years, wherever he is residing, can register himself as a voter and take part in the vote. The parties of Kashmir are apprehensive that their electoral maths may be disturbed by the inclusion of voters of other states in the list. That's why he is giving it the color of local versus outsider.

What changed after the abrogation of Article 370?

After Article 370, now like in other states, there will be only one voter list for assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Earlier, separate voter lists were prepared for both.

What is the current status of voter lists in Jammu and Kashmir?

The process of revision, review, and revision of electoral rolls is going on in Jammu and Kashmir. Any citizen who has attained the age of 18 years by 1 October 2022 can register as a voter. The publication of the draft voter lists will take place by September 15 and any objections and claims regarding the electoral rolls can be filed till October 25. The final publication of the voter list will be on November 25.

When will the assembly elections be held?

The last assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were held in November 2014. Under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019, the delimitation was to be done before the constitution of the Legislative Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir. The process of delimitation was completed in May this year and now the revision of voter lists is going on. The final decision on the assembly elections will be taken based on an assessment of the security scenario of Jammu and Kashmir after the final publication of the voter list.

Who will be considered 'ordinary residents'?

Only the Registration Officer of the constituency concerned will decide who is an 'ordinary resident' in this area. Citizens who are domiciled in any state of the country, but are residing in Jammu and Kashmir due to employment, education, or any other reason, can be registered as a voter in any constituency here. Yes, no citizen can be registered in two constituencies.

Who are considered temporary residents in Jammu and Kashmir

Due to Article 370, citizens of other states living in Jammu and Kashmir could vote in the Lok Sabha elections only. Such voters are called NPR (temporary residents). Ghulam displaced in Jammu and Kashmir could exercise franchise in the assembly and parliamentary elections, while refugees from West Pakistan living in Jammu and Kashmir since 1947 could vote only in parliamentary elections. They had to register themselves as NPR.

Why are voters increasing in Jammu and Kashmir?

The last revision of voter lists in Jammu and Kashmir was in 2019. At that time 78 lakh 44 thousand 343 voters were registered in the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir. For the year 2014 assembly elections, 7316946 voters were registered. Voter lists have not been revised since the Jammu and Kashmir Representation of the People Act 1957 became ineffective in the year 2019. According to government estimates, till now about one crore population in Jammu and Kashmir has been of 18 years of age or more.

what is the situation now?

Total Wards of Jammu Municipal Corporation 75

Vacant Ward: Two (Vacant due to death of two corporators)

graduate or over 29

12th pass 15

10th pass 12

8th pass 19

Jammu Municipal Corporation Mayor Chandra Mohan Gupta said that at present there is no educational qualification prescribed for contesting elections. Only the government can take the final decision on this. Efforts are being made that good resolutions are passed so that the future of the people can be changed.

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