Digital restrictions block voter registration for eligible youth in IIOJK
ECI app excludes applicants born after October 1, 2006, officials say
Srinagar: Eligible young voters in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir face hurdles registering online. Officials and political leaders say the Election Commission of India (ECI) app rejects their details.
The problem has persisted since October 2024. Booth-level officers (BLOs) say the digital system cannot process applicants born after October 1, 2006.
Manual applications fail to resolve digital restrictions
Election officials are asking eligible applicants to submit physical documents. These include birth certificates and Form 6, the voter registration application.
However, online registration remains stalled until the qualifying date is updated. BLOs say they have already collected documents from eligible young applicants.
“We have raised this issue with higher authorities after many new voters haven’t been registered on the app,” a BLO told ETV Bharat anonymously.
The officer said officials had compiled lists of eligible youth in their areas. However, the app provides no option to upload their registration details.
Special registration drive faces technical hurdle
A Jammu district officer said a circular ordered a special intensive revision (SIR) drive. The deputy commissioner, also district election officer, issued it on October 8.
The drive was scheduled for October 10 and 11. However, staff reportedly could not register applicants born after October 1, 2006.
“The application has restrictions, so we asked the electors to furnish their details,” the BLO said. “As and when the app allows us to register them online, we will complete the registration.”
The restriction has prompted concerns over eligible youths’ access to voter registration.
Former legislator questions eligibility restrictions
Former Gool Member of Legislative Assembly Aijaz Ahmed Khan also raised concerns. He said BLOs were refusing to register applicants born in 2007 and 2008.
An official circular instructed BLOs to enrol eligible voters born on or before October 1, 2006. It also directed them to process deletion, migration and correction cases with supporting documents.
Khan questioned whether such instructions could restrict the rights of eligible voters.
“How can a circular deprive the constitutional rights of the voters who have completed 18 years of age, as the election department is registering the voters only who have completed the age of 20 years?” he asked.
Election authorities cite pending revision
IIOJK Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Gurpinder Singh said the restriction would continue temporarily. He said the ECI must announce a fresh summary or special revision of electoral rolls.
“The qualifying date for Jammu and Kashmir hasn’t been updated as the revision of electoral rolls hasn’t been announced by the ECI,” Singh said.
He said the last revision took place in 2024, before the Assembly elections. No subsequent revision has been announced, he added.
Singh said online registration would resume alongside the revision process. He noted that voter registration otherwise remains a continuous process.
The reported technical restrictions have raised questions about timely enrolment. Eligible young people risk remaining outside the electoral rolls until registration resumes.
