Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: In utter violation of the United Nations resolutions, the Modi-led Indian government has allowed its citizens, temporarily residing in India illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, to vote in so-called assembly elections.

According to the Kashmir media service, this was announced by the Indian Chief Electoral Officer for the IIOJK chapter Hridesh Kumar Singh in a statement on Wednesday. He said, “Non-Locals residing in Jammu Kashmir can also vote in Assembly elections”.

Chief Electoral Officer Hridesh Kumar Singh said that the final voter lists in IIOJK be released on November 25, 2022.

Hridesh Kumar Singh said those who are temporarily residing in Jammu Kashmir can vote by getting their names included in the voters’ lists. “Non-Locals residing in Jammu Kashmir for work purposes, labour or studying in Jammu Kashmir can also vote. They can also register as voters online,” he added.

Voters who will be of 18 years of age on 1 October 2022 or who have attained the age of 18 years before that can get their names included in the voter lists during this period.

The Election Commissioner stated that there was no bar for voting for non-locals or Indian citizens. “It does not matter how long one has been staying in Jammu Kashmir. …. Those living here on rent can also vote,” the election Commission said.

Around 20 to 25 lakh new voters, mostly from India, will be included in the voters’ list.

It is worth mentioning here that after the report of the Delimitation Commission was implemented in IIOJK, the number of assembly seats has gone up to 90.

With the increase in the number of assembly seats, there has been a massive change in the electoral rolls and now the Indian citizens, present in IIOJK under any category, have been made eligible to get their names registered on voter lists.