Like other parts of the country, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of existing electoral rolls is likely to begin in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in May this year.
Notably, the preliminary groundwork for the SIR has already started in Jammu and Kashmir, as Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have begun door-to-door visits in different parts of the Union Territory.
On the directions of higher authorities, BLOs have started replacing blurred and black-and-white photographs in the electoral rolls with clear, coloured images to ensure accurate voter identification. The ongoing process also aims to remove discrepancies in voter records as part of the pre-SIR exercise.
Sources said that BLOs across the Union Territory have started the exercise to replace black-and-white photographs in the electoral rolls with fresh coloured images.
“The task of capturing fresh photographs and correcting defects in the rolls is underway and will be completed shortly. This is a preparatory step before the formal announcement of the Special Intensive Revision,” sources said.
Sources added that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is expected to notify the SIR for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in April–May, after completing the exercise in 12 States and Union Territories where it was announced earlier.
Notably, the annual Special Summary Revision (SSR), usually conducted between September and December with the final rolls published in January, was not held in Jammu and Kashmir in 2025 due to the proposed SIR. Only preparatory activities were carried out during that period.
Jammu and Kashmir currently has around nine million registered voters, with five Lok Sabha seats and a 90-member Legislative Assembly, while Ladakh has about two lakh electors and one Lok Sabha seat.
As per the records of the Election Commission of India (ECI), there were 88,66,704 voters during the 2024 Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Out of these, 4,27,813 were first-time voters.
Sources said the SIR is considered particularly significant in Jammu and Kashmir in view of concerns over alleged illegal inclusions in the electoral rolls. “There are apprehensions regarding the enrolment of illegal immigrants, including Rohingyas, Bangladeshis, and others, who may have obtained voter cards and identity documents through manipulation,” sources said.
Local body elections for Panchayats, Urban Local Bodies, Block Development Councils and District Development Councils are due in Jammu and Kashmir, though no immediate schedule has been announced. Officials said the SIR timeline could be extended if such elections are notified during April–May.
Sources recalled that in 2021, elections to two District Development Council seats in Kupwara and Bandipora were annulled after it emerged that the elected candidates were residents of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), leading to re-polls in those constituencies.
The Election Commission, sources said, is keen to ensure error-free and credible electoral rolls ahead of any future elections in the region.
Comments are closed.