Youths who have not yet registered as voters must enrolled as voter – Pankaj Agarwal

Chandigarh – Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Mr. Pankaj Agarwal urged young men and women who have turned 18 years to get enrolled as voters before the Haryana Assembly elections. He emphasized the importance of participating in the democratic process to contribute to the development of the country and the state. The draft voter lists will be published on July 25, and claims and objections can be submitted until August 9. The final voter lists will be published on August 20, 2024.

Mr. Agarwal made these remarks during a meeting with officials from the Secondary Education, Higher Education, Technical Education, Labour, Women and Child Development, and SEWA Departments, in view of the upcoming Vidhan Sabha Elections.

Mr. Pankaj Agarwal said that the Election Commission of India has streamlined the process for adding names to the voter list. Previously, voter registration was conducted once a year, with January 1 as the eligibility date. Now, new registrations can be made four times a year, with eligibility dates on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.

He suggested that, similar to how SMS notifications are sent to students for scholarships, school heads should ensure that SMS notifications are sent to students once they turn 18 to remind them to get enrolled as voter. Block Education Officers, who have been designated as dedicated AEROs (Assistant Electoral Registration Officers) by the Commission, should also encourage people to register to vote. Additionally, given the high number of migrant workers in the organized sector in Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, and Panchkula, the Labor Department should conduct campaigns in these areas to help workers register or update their addresses on the voter list.

The Chief Electoral Officer has designated special dates July 27, 28, and August 3, 4 for the preparation of the revised voter list. On these days, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will be present at polling stations to assist with voter registration, and booth-level agents should also coordinate with the BLOs.

Mr. Pankaj Agarwal said that on July 13, a team from the Election Commission of India visited Haryana to review preparations for the assembly general elections. Since then, the Chief Electoral Officer’s office has remained vigilant in its preparations. Citizens can register to vote using the Voter Helpline mobile app or by calling the Voter Helpline number, 1950, for more information.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer Mrs. Hema Sharma, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Mr. Apoorv, Additional Director (Administration) of Secondary Education Department Dr. Richa Rathi, Joint Director (Administration) of Higher Education Department Mr. Navdeep Singh and Joint Chief Electoral Officer Mr. Rajkumar, along with officers of other departments were also present in the meeting.