General Election to Legislative Assemblies of Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir, 2024

Name of State/UT Term of Assembly Total     No. of AC Seats

Haryana 90 17

04.11.2019 to 03.11.2024

Reserved for SCs 0

Reserved for STs

Jammu And Kashmir 90 07

Reserved for STs 09

Election Commission of India (hereinafter ECI) is committed to conduct free, fair, participative, accessible, inclusive and safe election to the Legislative Assemblies of Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir in exercise of the authority and powers conferred upon under Article 324 read with Article 172 (1) of the Constitution of India and Section 15 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. As per Supreme Court judgment dated 11^th December 2023 in the matter of Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1099 of 2019, the Commission has also decided to take necessary steps to conduct election to the legislative assembly of UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

2.  The Commission has visited these State/UT to review the poll preparedness and during the visit, the Commission interacted with political parties, enforcement agencies, all District Election Officers, SSPs/SPs, Divisional Commissioners, Range IGs, CS/DGPs and other senior officers of the State/UT.  The Commission has also interacted with Home Secretary, Government of India.

3.  The team of senior officers of the Commission also visited these State/UT to review law and order situation, to ascertain State/ UT specific areas of concern, to discuss the quantum of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) required in each State/ UT and to review the overall preparedness of the election machinery. The cooperation of all authorities was sought for conducting free, fair and peaceful elections across these State/UT under the overall superintendence, direction and control of the Commission.

4.  The Kashmiri migrant electors registered in several parts of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly Kashmir region, were forced to leave their native places during late 1980s and early 1990s because of terrorist activities of extremists supported from across the Indian borders. In view of this, the Commission, after consultation with the Central Government and the State Government came out with a scheme to enable these migrant electors to cast their vote from wherever they are residing in the country, by way of postal ballots since 1996 and voting in person at Special Polling Stations set up at Delhi, Udhampur and Jammu since 2002. Government of India vide notification dated 9th August, 2019 has abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution of India and promulgated the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019 and Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir would now go for assembly elections the very first time since its inception. In view of this, the Commission has decided to extend the earlier scheme, for Kashmiri migrant electors from the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. Now, for migrant electors of Jammu and Udhampur, the filling of Form-M has been done away with to vote in person at Special Polling Stations. The electors staying in zones/camps will be mapped to their respective polling stations by the respective AERO Migrants at Jammu and Udhampur. For migrants who are residing outside Jammu and Udhampur, while they have to fill Form-M, they can now self-certify the certificate attached with the Form-M, instead of going through the hassle of getting it attested by a Gazetted officer. Additionally, the facility of voting through Postal Ballot for all those who cannot reach these Special Polling Stations shall also be available by filling Form 12C.

5. The conduct of General Elections in these State/UT requires considerable deployment of Central and State Police Forces to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections with fearless participation of electors, especially in vulnerable areas/pockets. Mobilization, deployment and disengagement of these forces with minimum crisscross movement and optimal utilization involved complex planning and detailed analysis, carried out over several rounds of consultations with the senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs/ CAPFs/ Police Nodal Officers of the State/ UT.

6. Delimitation of Assembly Constituencies:

      The General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Haryana shall be held on the basis of the extent of Assembly Constituencies as contained in the “Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order-2008” and in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, the General Election to Legislative Assembly shall be held on the basis of “Delimitation Commission’s Order No. 2 vide Notification dated 5^th May 2022”.

7. Electoral Rolls:

      The Commission firmly believes that pure and updated electoral rolls are the foundation of free, fair and credible election. Hence, intensive and sustained focus is placed upon improving its quality, health and fidelity. After the amendment in the Section 14 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 by the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021, there is a provision of four qualifying dates to enroll as a voter in a year. Accordingly, Commission has conducted the Special Summary Revision of Electoral Roll in Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir with reference to 01.07.2024, as the qualifying date. After time-bound completion of Special Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls with reference to 01.07.2024 as the qualifying date, the final publication of electoral roll is to be done on 20.08.2024 and 27.08.2024 in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana respectively. As per latest data of electoral roll, the number of electors in the State/UT of Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir is:

The Commission, in order to maximize participation from all strata of society and improve the health of electoral roll has taken all possible efforts to:

1. Ensure maximum enrolment of vulnerable groups like PwDs, transgender and sex workers by collaborating with reputed CSOs. For example, engage with NACO (National AIDS control organisation) to ensure maximum enrolment of sex workers.

   1. Remove Logical Errors, Demographic Similar Entries and Photo Similar Entries in the electoral roll after following proper field verification and statutory processes.

   2. Focus on the enrolment of young voters especially who attained the qualifying age on 01.07.2024.

   3. Rationalize Polling Stations with due diligence. Each and every polling station has been physically visited by Senior Officers and Shifting of polling stations in new and better infrastructure building has also been considered after following due procedures.

   4. Other Government database like database of Social Welfare Department, NACO/SACO etc. for vulnerable groups of citizens, as benchmark, were considered for enhanced registration of these groups.

   5. The Commission enforces the Assured Minimum Facilities along with accessibility friendly infrastructure for PWDs and senior citizens in the polling stations, CEOs/DEOs have been directed to create permanent infrastructure such as ramps at the polling stations.

   6. Polling Station Locations with three or more Polling Stations have been planned for separate entry and exit so as to avoid any untoward incidences related to any epidemic or public order.

   7. The Commission has encouraged the DEOs to use eco-friendly material and exhibit local culture and art to create Model Polling Stations. Each District should have at least one such Model Polling Station, as far as possible.

   8. List of 85+, PwDs etc. has been prepared and a communication of respect/recognition has also been sent to make them feel important part of society.

8. Photo Electoral Rolls and Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC):

      Photo Electoral Rolls will be used during the General Elections to Legislative Assemblies of Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. EPIC is one of the documents for establishing the identity of elector at the time of voting. All out efforts are being made to ensure 100% delivery of EPIC to all newly registered electors before the last date of filing nomination.

9. Voter Information Slips (VIS):

      To facilitate voters in knowing the serial number of electoral roll in their polling station, date of poll, time etc., ‘Voter Information Slip’ will be issued. Voter Information Slip will include information like Polling Station, Date, Time etc. with QR code but not the photograph of the voter. Voter Information Slips will be distributed at least 5 days before the date of poll to all enrolled electors, by the District Election Officer. However, Voter Information Slip will not be allowed as proof of identity of voters.

10. Braille Voter Information Slips:

      To ensure ease of participation and active engagement of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the electoral process, Commission has directed to issue Accessible Voter Information Slips with Braille Features to Persons with Visual Impairment, along with normal Voter Information Slips.

11. Voter Guide:

      In these elections, a Voter Guide (in Hindi/English/Local Language) shall be provided to every elector’s household ahead of elections, giving them information about the date and time of poll, contact details of the BLOs, important websites, helpline numbers, documents required for identification at the polling station besides other important information including the Do’s and Don’ts for voters at the polling station. This Voter Guide Brochure will be distributed along with Voter Information Slips by the BLOs.

12. Measures to prevent Impersonation:

      BLOs have done door to door survey and prepared a list of voters found absent from the place of their ordinary residence. Similarly, names of shifted and dead voters, whose names could not be deleted, shall also be added to this list by BLOs. This list of Absent, Shifted or Dead (ASD) voters shall be given to the Presiding Officers on the poll day. Commission has issued instructions that voting will be allowed only after proper identification of voters. Identification shall be done on the basis of EPIC or other alternative identity documents permitted by the Commission. Presiding Officers are required to double check the identity of voters whose names are on the ASD list.

13. Identification of Voters at Polling Stations:

      For identification of voters at Polling Station, the Voter shall present his EPIC or any of the following identification documents approved by the Commission:

1. Aadhaar Card,

2. MGNREGA Job Card,

iii. Passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/Post Office,

4. Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour,

5. Driving License,

vi. PAN Card,

vii.Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR,

viii.Indian Passport,

ix. Pension document with photograph,

10. Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/State Govt./PSUs/Public Limited Companies, and

11. Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs and

12. Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card, M/o Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India

14.  Polling Stations and Special Facilitation:

1. Maximum No. of electors in Polling Station

There shall be maximum 1500 electors in a polling station.