Total number of voters: 88.03 lakh
Male voters: 44.89 lakh
Female voters: 43.13 lakh
Voters of the third gender: 168
The stage is set for the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections and the region has seen a significant increase of over 93,000 new voters, thanks to a corresponding increase in the number of young voters. At the same time, the number of polling stations across the Union Territory has increased by 209.
This became clear when the special round-up of photo voter lists with cut-off date of July 1, 2024 was successfully completed in all twenty districts of Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Election Officer of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory said on Tuesday.
“With a focus on ensuring accuracy, completeness and purity of electoral rolls, the gigantic special audit exercise in Jammu and Kashmir has been successfully completed. We have been able to include all eligible citizens who have completed 18 years of age or have registered for the first time, identify and remove ineligible voters and correct errors and discrepancies to improve the completeness and accuracy of electoral rolls,” the CEO said.
The CEO reiterated his commitment to increasing voter participation and inclusivity and ensuring the integrity of electoral processes while detailing the key findings of the Special Summary Revision-2024.
“As per the Special Summary Revision -2024, which was completed with the publication of the final electoral roll, the total number of eligible voters is 88.03 lakh. This includes 44.89 lakh males, 43.13 lakh females and 168 voters of the third gender,” the Chief Electoral Officer said in a statement.
In this Special Summary Revision, a total of 93,284 voters were added in Jammu and Kashmir while the voter to population ratio improved from 0.59 to 0.60.
Highlighting the remarkable achievements, the CEO said that the number of young voters in the 18-19 age group increased by 45,964, including 24,310 women, while the total number of female voters also increased by 51,142.
“This significant increase in the number of young voters in Jammu and Kashmir shows the commitment of young voters towards the electoral process,” the CEO said, adding that the total number of young voters in Jammu and Kashmir in the age group of 18-29 years is 25.34 lakhs.
The significant increase in the number of young first-time voters is due to the comprehensive SVEEP plan and its successful implementation by the respective District Election Commissioners under the overall guidance of the Chief Election Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir.
The CEO also highlighted the special efforts made during the special revision of the summary, which resulted in an improvement in the gender balance among voters by two percentage points (from 959 to 961), representing significant progress in efforts to increase the inclusion of women in the electoral system.
“A grassroots, multi-pronged campaign, which included organising Prabhat Feris, house-to-house voting and mass awareness programmes, has contributed significantly to increasing the number of women voters,” the CEO said.
In addition to the increased number of voters, the number of polling stations in Jammu and Kashmir has also increased this year.
“The number of polling stations (PSs) in Jammu and Kashmir for the upcoming assembly elections has increased from 11629 to 11838 and polling station locations (PSLs) from 8930 to 9168. This increase of 209 polling stations and 238 polling station locations is due to rationalisation of polling stations and polling booths while ensuring that the distance is less than 2 kilometres to facilitate voters to vote,” the CEO informed.
The CEO said that as of now, there are 83,191 registered voters with disabilities in Jammu and Kashmir, while the number of voters above 100 years of age is 2,428.
The CEO thanked all those involved in the special summary revision and stressed the importance of high-quality, clean and error-free electoral rolls.
The CEO appreciated the Block Level Officers and their key role in the successful conduct of the door-to-door polls in the difficult areas of Jammu and Kashmir, while noting that the number of registered voters with disabilities and migrants has increased significantly.
The CEO appealed to all eligible voters in Jammu and Kashmir to exercise their franchise in their respective constituencies on election days and strengthen democracy in the Union Territory.
