The Election Commission (EC) has started preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections in Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Jammu and Kashmir. This process includes updating the electoral rolls in these regions, with July 1, 2024, set as the qualifying date for voter registration.

The legislative terms of the current Assemblies end on November 3 in Haryana, November 26 in Maharashtra, and January 5, 2025, in Jharkhand. Therefore, elections must be held before these dates.

For Jammu and Kashmir, this will be the first Assembly election since the abrogation of Article 370 and the region’s reorganization into two union territories. The Supreme Court had previously mandated the EC to conduct these polls by September 30, 2024.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced during his Yoga day visit to the UT that Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir would be held soon, with plans to restore statehood to the region. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar noted the significant voter turnout in the recent Lok Sabha elections as a positive indicator for the forthcoming Assembly polls.

The EC will start pre-update activities on June 25 to ensure polling stations are conveniently located, particularly in group housing societies, slums, city outgrowths, and rural areas. The final electoral rolls will be published on August 20, 2024.