J&K sees surge in women & first-time voters ahead of Assembly Elections
Electorate reaches 88.03 lakh: 44.89 lakh male; 43.13 lakh female, 168 third-gender voters
Polling Stations increased to 11,838
Jammu, Aug 20: As the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly elections approach, the region has seen a surge of over 93,000 new voters, driven by increases in young and female voters. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of J&K announced a rise in the number of polling stations by 209, reflecting ongoing efforts to enhance electoral accessibility.
The Special Summary Revision of Photo Electoral Rolls, with a qualifying date of July 1, 2024, was completed across all twenty districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The CEO emphasized the success of the revision in ensuring the accuracy and inclusivity of the electoral rolls. This exercise aimed to include eligible citizens who have turned 18 or registered for the first time, while also removing ineligible voters and correcting errors.
The total number of electors now stands at 88.03 lakhs, including 44.89 lakhs males, 43.13 lakhs females, and 168 third-gender electors. The revision added 93,284 voters, improving the elector population ratio from 0.59 to 0.60. Notably, there was a significant increase in young voters, with 45,964 new electors aged 18 to 19, including 24,310 women. The number of women voters increased by 51,142, reflecting a broader trend of growing female participation.
Efforts to improve gender inclusion led to an increase in the gender ratio of electors from 959 to 961. The CEO credited the successful implementation of the comprehensive SVEEP plan by District Election Officers for this progress.
The number of polling stations has increased from 11,629 to 11,838, with polling station locations rising from 8,930 to 9,168. This increase aims to ensure that polling stations are within a 2-kilometer distance for voter convenience.
Additionally, 83,191 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and 2,428 centenarian voters were registered. The CEO commended the Block Level Officers for their house-to-house surveys in challenging terrains.
The CEO highlighted that the multi-faceted campaign, including Prabhat Feris, door-to-door initiatives, and mass awareness programs, contributed significantly to the increase in women electors.
He urged all eligible voters in Jammu and Kashmir to participate actively in the upcoming elections to strengthen democracy in the Union Territory.
