New norms to revise electoral rolls in J&K, Gujarat, Himachal.

June 30, 2022

The Election Commission (EC) kicked off a drive to update the electoral rolls in Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, where elections are expected later this year, for the first time allowing those turning 18 as of October 1 instead of January 1 to enrol, and for the collection of Aadhaar numbers of the applicants.
The EC wrote to the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh CEOs, giving the programme for the revision of rolls to be followed.
The EC informed the CEOs to carry out the special revision in accordance with the rules framed under the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021, which increased the qualifying dates from January 1 every year to January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1, and allowed for Aadhaar linking with voter ID.
The two State Assembly elections would also be the first ones where new electors would have Aadhaar linked voter IDs, but it would not be mandatory.
According to EC, the applicant had to furnish Aadhaar Number in Form6 and Form8, if he/ she is having Aadhaar number, however, no application for inclusion of name in electoral roll shall be denied and no entries in electoral roll shall be deleted for inability of an individual to furnish or intimate Aadhaar Number.