SEC for effective implementation of Postal Ballot Scheme for Kashmiri Migrants, absentee voters in DDC, Panchayat, ULB Polls

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: The State Election Commissioner (SEC), K.K Sharma on Monday directed for effective coordination of different departments for ensuring successful implementation of postal ballot schemes in the ensuing District Development Council ( DDC) elections, Panchayat and Municipal By-elections so that maximum participations of Kashmiri migrants and other absentee voters is ensured.
The SEC was speaking at a review meeting convened to discuss implementation of Postal Ballot Scheme for Kashmir Migrants and Absentee Voters in the ensuing DDC, Panchayati and Municipal By-Elections which was also attended by Chief Electoral Officer Hirdesh Kumar.
The meeting was also attended by Chief Post Master General JK, Relief Commissioner, TK Bhat and other senior officers.
The meeting was told that an appropriate mechanism has been put in place for the successful implementation of Postal ballot scheme for Kashmiri Migrants and also absentee voters. It was also given out that the concerned Kashmiri Migrants living in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country will have to approach Assistant Returning Officer (Migrants) for doing their registration and other related things for hassle free exercise of their franchise.
Similarly, inservice voters and those on COVID-19 related duties would have to approach the concerned returning officer for casting postal votes.
Pertinently, the Absentee Voter Postal Ballot has been formulated for the persons/electors who are COVID-19 suspect or affected persons, and are hospitalised or under institutional quarantine, certified by a competent authority, besides senior citizens above the age of 80 years, Electors with physical disability as already marked/flagged in the data base of the electoral rolls of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and also those on Election duty or COVID related duty.
The SEC also asked for effective coordination between the postal authorities and the officers concerned with the electoral process so that the maximum participation of Kashmiri Migrant voters besides the Class of Absentee Voters is ensured which would ensure participation of every section and class of the society.
He also asked for carrying out maximum publicity of the scheme so that maximum voting percentage is ensured and everybody gets a chance to fulfil their duty for strengthening the democracy at the grassroots level.