Only 38 pc of 9.6 lakh first-time voters registered

Amaninder Pal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 5

For the Election Commission, the whereabouts of around six lakh voters in the 18-19 years age group is a mystery.

The election authorities have targeted to register around 9.6 lakh first time voters in this age group before the 2017 Assembly elections. However, the final electoral rolls released by the state chief electoral office revealed that the staff could register only 3.67 lakh (38 per cent) eligible voters in this age group.

“Our target was 9.6 lakh, which is 3.25 per cent of the eligible population. Every school and college going student was traced and registered as voter. Despite that, we could register about 1.84 per cent of this particular age group,” said Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh.

He said the difference might be due to a gap in actual current population and population projected on the basis of 2011 census figures. However, a senior officer termed it as result of massive migration from Punjab.

“The rate of migration of youngsters has witnessed a massive rise in past few years. Moreover, significant number of migrant labourers families have also returned to their parent states in these years. Migration is also the reason,” he added.