Budgam, Apr 25 (KNO): Jammu and Kashmir State Election Commissioner (SEC) Shantmanu on Saturday said that final electoral rolls for the Union Territory are likely to be ready between May 10 and 15, with voter enrolment witnessing an improvement of around 4–5 per cent during the ongoing revision exercise.
Speaking to the media in Budgam, Shantmanu, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the revision process, which began on March 27, is in its concluding phase. He noted that continuous monitoring through meetings and field inspections has ensured steady progress. “On-ground visits help us understand the actual situation, and I am satisfied with the way the process is being carried out,” he said.
The CEC said the current exercise includes enrolling newly eligible voters who have attained the age of 18, while removing the names of deceased individuals and those who have shifted from their original locations. "Necessary corrections in voter details are also being undertaken simultaneously to enhance the accuracy of electoral rolls so that whenever in the future panchayat elections happen, our electoral rolls are ready," he said.
He said that Panchayat Secretaries and Booth Level Officers are actively conducting door-to-door verification across the district. “Teams are reaching every household, assisting people in filling out forms, and ensuring that no eligible voter is left out. The response from the public has been encouraging,” he added.
Shantmanu further said that once the final rolls are published, the remaining preparations for Panchayat elections are expected to be completed by May or June. The final decision regarding poll dates, he added, will be taken jointly by the Government of India and the Jammu and Kashmir administration.
He reiterated that all necessary steps will be taken to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections under the supervision of the Election Commission of India.
The State Election Commissioner was accompanied by District Development Commissioner Budgam Athar Aamir Khan during the visit—(KNO)