3.39 lakh new enrolments, 1.13 lakh deletions
RK News Service
Jammu, May 20: The State Election Commission (SEC), Jammu and Kashmir, has concluded the annual revision of Panchayat Electoral Rolls with the publication of the Final Panchayat Electoral Rolls 2026, fixing April 1, 2026, as the qualifying date, with the final voter count crossing 72.24 lakh after the addition of 3.39 lakh new voters.
The comprehensive exercise, which began with the release of the Draft Electoral Roll on March 27, 2026, has now formally culminated following a structured schedule of claims, objections, and verification.
The Commission opened a 40-day window for filing claims and objections from March 27 to May 5, 2026. All submissions received during this period were examined and disposed of by Electoral Registration Officers by May 14, 2026. With the completion of this process, the Final Electoral Rolls were published on May 21, 2026, setting the groundwork for the upcoming panchayat elections across the Union Territory.
The revision drive recorded significant voter activity. A total of 3,39,384 new voters were added to the rolls, while 1,13,344 names were deleted due to death, shifting, duplication, and other admissible reasons. Corrections were carried out in the particulars of 17,664 voters, and 31,590 voters were transposed.
The final roll now stands at 72,24,131 electors, which includes 36,62,502 male, 35,61,488 female, and 141 third-gender voters. This marks a net increase of 2,26,040 voters compared to the previous revision concluded in January 2025, when the rolls listed 69,98,091 voters with January 1, 2025, as the qualifying date.
The Commission said the exercise witnessed substantial participation from eligible citizens, with 5,10,285 forms received during the revision period. These forms were processed by Panchayat Election Booth Officials, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers, and Electoral Registration Officers in accordance with prescribed procedures and timelines.
To maximise outreach, the SEC undertook extensive SVEEP campaigns through print and electronic media, including radio jingles, voter appeals by the State Election Commissioner, and regular newspaper advertisements. District authorities further strengthened awareness using hoardings, mobile awareness vans, and other SVEEP modes.
State Election Commissioner Shantmanu commended the coordinated efforts of District Panchayat Election Officers, EROs, AEROs, PEBOs, the staff of the State Election Commission and the Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Department, as well as representatives of political parties. He also thanked the public for their active participation and particularly lauded the enthusiastic response from youth, who turned out in large numbers to enrol and contributed significantly to the 3.39 lakh new additions.