J&K registers 3.5 lakh new voters

Jammu and Kashmir has recently registered about 3.5 lakh first-time voters.
The information was given by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Umang Narula to Director General (DG) of Election Commission of India (ECI) Akshay Raut during a meeting via video-conference.
During the meeting, the DG ECI was apprised of the activities being carried out under the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) and overall poll preparedness in the state.
All District Election Officers of the state also participated in the meeting from their respective headquarters. Giving the brief, the CEO informed that these new voters were registered during the summary revision of the Electoral Roll.

The CEO said state and district SVEEP committees have been constituted and the SVEEP State Plan has also been rolled out from March 1. He said as many as 253 campus ambassadors have been appointed in different colleges and universities.
The dissemination of Electoral Literacy Material through Adult Literacy workers is in progress, while Radio jingles on voter turnout are being broadcast ten times a day from Radio Kashmir Jammu, Srinagar and other private radio stations, he said, adding that a special programme for registration of left out new eligible voters was also held on March 9.

The CEO said awareness pamphlets and other printed material are also being distributed to educate the people about the importance of casting vote. It was also informed that online registration and name search facility for the voters is also being facilitated through the CEO's website.

He said that the issue of SMS reminder on poll day has been taken up with BSNL and private telecom operators.
The DG (ECI) laid stress on creating mass awareness with special focus on women and youths. He said that maximum participation of women and newly-registered voters would help record high voter turnout in the state.