Jammu, April 12: In a significant move aimed at simplifying voting procedures for Kashmiri migrants during the ongoing general elections of 2024, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has eliminated the requirement of filling Form-M for displaced individuals from the valley currently residing in Jammu and Udhampur.
The ECI has also streamlined the process for migrants residing outside Jammu and Udhampur by authorizing self-attestation of the certificate appended with Form-M, thereby removing the need for attestation by a gazetted officer. This decision, ratified during a meeting today chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar alongside Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, comes in response to numerous representations from Kashmiri Migrant groups highlighting the challenges faced in completing the Form-M process during each election cycle.
“The previous Form-M procedure imposed undue bureaucratic hurdles on these voters, complicating their exercise of the right to franchise,” stated the Election Commission. Unlike regular voters, the Kashmiri migrants had to navigate a complex and onerous process involving specific documentation, proof of migration status, and attestation by a gazetted officer.
The decision was made following comprehensive consultations with the Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir, who submitted comments on April 9, 2024, in consensus with political parties.
This move by the Election Commission aims to ensure that Kashmiri migrants can vote more easily, whether at transitory camps or through postal ballots, in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections of 2024. The adjustments are expected to streamline the voting process and empower displaced Kashmiri citizens to participate more effectively in India’s democratic process.
