Enhanced Measures Implemented to Facilitate Voting Accessibility and Integrity by ECI
New Delhi, 12 April 2024
The Election Commission of India (ECI)has responded to concerns raised by various organizations representing Kashmiri migrant voters regarding the challenges they face in filing form-M. In a recent development, the Election Commission has announced modifications to the voting process for migrant voters. According to the order issued by the Election Commission, all 22 polling booths, including 21 in Jammu and 1 in Udhampur, will now be mapped to camps/zones to ensure that each zone has at least one special polling station.
To prevent impersonation at these special polling stations, voters will be required to present either their Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) or any alternate document specified by the commission for identification purposes. The Election Commission emphasized that the other terms and conditions of the scheme, initially issued on March 22, 2024, will remain unchanged.
Meanwhile, preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections are underway. The elections for the 543 Lok Sabha seats are scheduled to be conducted in seven phases, spanning from April 19 to June 1. The counting of votes for the Lok Sabha Polls is slated for June 4.
Specifically for Jammu and Kashmir, the Lok Sabha election 2024 is set to occur in five phases, commencing from April 19 and concluding on May 20, 2024. These elections will determine the representation of five members from Jammu and Kashmir in the 18th Lok Sabha.
Prateeksha Kumari is a journalist and strategic communications professional specialising in digital journalism, political reporting, and public affairs. Her work focuses on grassroots issues, governance, and civic developments, with an emphasis on clarity, accuracy, and narrative-driven reporting.
She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla and has qualified the UGC-NET examination, reflecting her academic grounding in media studies and communication research. Her reporting spans politics, public policy, health, education, and socio-economic issues, and she is experienced in bilingual (Hindi and English) content creation tailored to diverse audiences.
Alongside her journalistic work, she brings experience in political communication and public relations, where she has contributed to campaign messaging, media outreach, and narrative building. She has worked on integrated communication strategies across print and digital platforms, combining editorial judgment with audience insight and data-led content approaches.