Over 35K forms accepted for fresh voter enrolment

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, April 19

As many as 44,617 people applied for enrolment as voters through Form 6 between February 1 and April 19. Form 6 is filled by those who want to register as fresh voters for the first time. Of them, forms of 35,036 people were accepted while others rejected.

In Phillaur, as many as 4,177 people applied for enrolment as voters while in Nakodar, the number was 2,964. In Shahkot, 2,638 people applied for registration and in Kartarpur, their number was 5,081.

In Jalandhar West, officials received 6,099 forms, in Jalandhar Central, a total of 6,044 people applied for enrolment. In Jalandhar North, the number was 6,993. In Jalandhar Cantonment, it was 6,823 and in Adampur, officials received 3,798 forms.

In Phillaur, of the total 4,177 forms, 25 were rejected. In Nakodar, a total of 2,722 forms were accepted while 89 were rejected. A total of 2,518 forms were accepted while 32 were rejected in Shahkot. In Kartarpur, a total of 4,361 forms were accepted while 288 were rejected.

In Jalandhar West, a total of 155 forms were rejected.

In Jalandhar Central, a total of 4,602 forms were accepted, in Jalandhar North, the number was 5,250, in Jalandhar Cantt , it was 5,139 and in Adampur, the number was 3,466.

Officials said these were those who applied for their vote for the first time, including youngsters in the age group of 18 to 19 years.

Administration officials had been asking youngsters to apply for their enrolment as voters for a long time. They urged them to use this opportunity to strengthen democracy at the grassroots level.

Incentives in pipeline

The administration has been planning to initiate steps to encourage first-time voters to exercise their franchise. According to a proposal, the first-time voters in the age group of 18 to 19 years may get a chance to enjoy a movie and eat food at restaurants at discount rates on the day of the elections. According to the officials, if the proposal is implemented, the first-time voters will be able to get discounts by showing their inked finger.

Under the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation Programme (SVEEP), various steps are being taken by the administration to encourage the young voters to cast their votes.

 Assembly segment-wise figures 

• In Phillaur, as many as 4,177 people applied for enrolment as voters while in Nakodar, the number was 2,964. In Shahkot, 2,638 people applied for registration and in Kartarpur, their number was 5,081. 
• In Jalandhar West, officials received 6,099 forms, in Jalandhar Central, a total of 6,044 people applied for enrolment. In Jalandhar North, the number was 6,993. In Jalandhar Cantonment, it was 6,823 and in Adampur, officials received 3,798 forms.