DW BUREAU / 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.

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. 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.
(editor@dailyworld.in)