JAMMU, Sept 18: In the first phase of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, a notable voter turnout of over 61 percent was recorded, reflecting the active participation of the electorate. The voting took place across 24 constituencies in seven districts, with the Election Commission expecting this percentage to increase as final data, including postal ballots, is yet to be compiled.
Kishtwar district led the voter turnout with an impressive 80.14 percent, followed closely by Doda at 71.34 percent and Ramban at 70.55 percent, indicating robust participation in the Chenab Valley region. In South Kashmir, Kulgam topped the charts with 62.46 percent, followed by Anantnag at 57.84 percent, Shopian at 55.96 percent, and Pulwama with 46.65 percent voter turnout.
This election marks the first assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, the last such election having taken place in 2014. Chief Electoral Officer P.K. Pole expressed satisfaction with the peaceful completion of the first phase and noted that voter turnout surpassed the percentages seen in the past seven elections, including both Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
Several constituencies showed high engagement. In Kishtwar’s Inderwal constituency, 82.16 percent of the electorate voted, with neighboring segments such as Padder-Nagseni recording 80.67 percent, and Kishtwar at 78.11 percent. In Doda district, the Doda West segment registered 75.98 percent, with Doda at 72.48 percent, and Bhaderwah at 67.18 percent. In Ramban, Banihal recorded 71.28 percent, while Ramban constituency registered a 69.60 percent turnout.
Voter enthusiasm was also significant in South Kashmir, with Pahalgam in Anantnag witnessing 71.26 percent turnout. Pulwama and Shopian districts, traditionally lower in turnout, saw increased participation with Pulwama registering 50.42 percent and Shopian recording 57.78 percent. Kulgam district showed notable voter involvement, with D.H. Pora recording 68.45 percent turnout.
The Election Commission attributed the high voter engagement to several factors, including improved security measures, the active participation of political parties, and effective election campaigns. Over 2.3 million voters were eligible to cast their ballots, determining the fate of 219 candidates, including 90 independent candidates.
Despite minor scuffles and arguments at some polling stations, no major incidents occurred that required a re-poll. A video circulating on social media of a police officer losing his temper outside a polling station in Kishtwar was addressed and resolved by the district election officials.
In addition to regular polling, special provisions were made for Kashmiri migrant voters, with 31.42 percent of the more than 35,000 eligible voters casting their votes at polling stations in Jammu, Udhampur, and Delhi.
The Election Commission expressed optimism about the upcoming phases of the election, scheduled for September 25 and October 1, and highlighted the long queues at polling stations as a sign of the people’s faith in the democratic process. This successful first phase builds on the positive trends witnessed during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which saw the highest voter turnout in 35 years in Jammu and Kashmir.