Jammu, Voter turnout of over 61 per cent was recorded on Wednesday in the first phase of assembly elections covering 24 segments in seven districts in Jammu and Kashmir, the Election Commission said.
The final voting percentage may increase as data from some stations has not yet been collected, and this also does not include mail-in ballots, the commission said.
Kishtwar district recorded the highest 80.14 per cent polling, followed by Doda (71.34 per cent) and Ramban (70.55 per cent) in the Chenab valley region of Jammu, the Election Commission said, citing the latest information.In south Kashmir, Kulgam district topped the turnout list with 62.46 percent, followed by Anantnag district (57.84 percent), Shopian district (55. 96 per cent) and Pulwama district (46.65 per cent), the EC said.
These were the first assembly elections in J-K after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The last assembly elections were held in 2014.
"Phase 1 of the General Elections for the J&K Legislative Assembly recorded an approximate voter turnout of 61.11 per cent as at 11:30 pm. Field level officials will continue to update the same as the remaining electoral parties follow coming back." The Election Commission said in a press release late last night. It said the actual final tally of votes recorded for each polling station is shared in Form 17 C with election agents at the close of polls.
Earlier, just after voting ended at 6pm, Chief Electoral Officer PK Pole said that voting concluded peacefully at 6pm and the voting percentage recorded at that time (59 per cent) was " the highest in the last seven elections” – four Lok Sabha and three assembly polls.
Reporters here reported that the elections, which covered 24 seats in seven districts, ended peacefully without any untoward incident. There are reports of some minor incidents of fights or arguments at some polling stations, but "no serious incident occurred" that could having forced a new vote, he said.
More than 2.3 million voters were eligible to vote to determine the fate of 219 candidates, including 90 independents.
"The voter percentage of 59 per cent is the highest in the last seven elections - four Lok Sabha polls and three assembly elections," Pole said, attributing the rise in voter turnout to several factors, including improved security situation, active participation of political parties and candidates and a campaign by the department.In the 2014 assembly elections, the district poll percentage was: Pulwama 44 percent, Shopian 48 percent, Kulgam 59 percent , Anantnag 60 percent, Ramban 70 percent, Doda 73 percent and Kishtwar 76 percent.
In Kishtwar districts, he said, the Padder-Nagseni segment recorded the highest 80.67 per cent votes, followed by Inderwal (80.06 per cent) and Kishtwar (78.11 per cent).
When asked about a video on social media that allegedly showed a police officer losing his temper and pointing his gun before being overpowered by his colleagues outside a polling station in Kishtwar, he said the district electoral officer and returning officer concerned took note and the issue was resolved amicably. The PDP and BJP candidates were involved in an argument at the polling station.
Pole expressed hope that the remaining two phases, September 25 and October 1, would also see a high percentage of votes.
Meanwhile, the election commission expressed satisfaction over the long queues of voters at the polling stations, showing to the entire world the deep confidence of the people of J&K in the democratic exercise. Voting was held at 3,276 polling stations in all the seven districts and 24 special polling stations established for migrant Pandits in Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi.
According to officials, 31.42 per cent of the over 35,000 eligible Kashmiri migrant voters exercised their right to vote. While 27 per cent cast their votes at 19 polling stations in Jammu, 40 per cent at four polling stations in Delhi and 30 per cent at one polling station in Udhampur.
In each of the seven constituencies where voting was held in the first phase, voter turnout surpassed the turnout during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the election commission said in a statement.The performance is based on the trend observed during the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which saw 58.58 per cent voter turnout at polling stations, the highest in the last 35 years.
Voting began at 7 a.m. and continued steadily throughout the day. Men and women, young and old, some too frail to walk and others patiently waiting their turn, queued outside polling booths across the Kashmir Valley and Jammu.
Security forces were deployed to make sure there were no problems. The day passed virtually without incident, except for reports of clashes between political workers in some areas of Bijbehara and D H Pora.
The final voting percentage may increase as data from some stations has not yet been collected, and this also does not include mail-in ballots, the commission said.
Kishtwar district recorded the highest 80.14 per cent polling, followed by Doda (71.34 per cent) and Ramban (70.55 per cent) in the Chenab valley region of Jammu, the Election Commission said, citing the latest information.In south Kashmir, Kulgam district topped the turnout list with 62.46 percent, followed by Anantnag district (57.84 percent), Shopian district (55. 96 per cent) and Pulwama district (46.65 per cent), the EC said.
These were the first assembly elections in J-K after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The last assembly elections were held in 2014.
"Phase 1 of the General Elections for the J&K Legislative Assembly recorded an approximate voter turnout of 61.11 per cent as at 11:30 pm. Field level officials will continue to update the same as the remaining electoral parties follow coming back." The Election Commission said in a press release late last night. It said the actual final tally of votes recorded for each polling station is shared in Form 17 C with election agents at the close of polls.
Earlier, just after voting ended at 6pm, Chief Electoral Officer PK Pole said that voting concluded peacefully at 6pm and the voting percentage recorded at that time (59 per cent) was " the highest in the last seven elections” – four Lok Sabha and three assembly polls.
Reporters here reported that the elections, which covered 24 seats in seven districts, ended peacefully without any untoward incident. There are reports of some minor incidents of fights or arguments at some polling stations, but "no serious incident occurred" that could having forced a new vote, he said.
More than 2.3 million voters were eligible to vote to determine the fate of 219 candidates, including 90 independents.
"The voter percentage of 59 per cent is the highest in the last seven elections - four Lok Sabha polls and three assembly elections," Pole said, attributing the rise in voter turnout to several factors, including improved security situation, active participation of political parties and candidates and a campaign by the department.In the 2014 assembly elections, the district poll percentage was: Pulwama 44 percent, Shopian 48 percent, Kulgam 59 percent , Anantnag 60 percent, Ramban 70 percent, Doda 73 percent and Kishtwar 76 percent.
In Kishtwar districts, he said, the Padder-Nagseni segment recorded the highest 80.67 per cent votes, followed by Inderwal (80.06 per cent) and Kishtwar (78.11 per cent).
When asked about a video on social media that allegedly showed a police officer losing his temper and pointing his gun before being overpowered by his colleagues outside a polling station in Kishtwar, he said the district electoral officer and returning officer concerned took note and the issue was resolved amicably. The PDP and BJP candidates were involved in an argument at the polling station.
Pole expressed hope that the remaining two phases, September 25 and October 1, would also see a high percentage of votes.
Meanwhile, the election commission expressed satisfaction over the long queues of voters at the polling stations, showing to the entire world the deep confidence of the people of J&K in the democratic exercise. Voting was held at 3,276 polling stations in all the seven districts and 24 special polling stations established for migrant Pandits in Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi.
According to officials, 31.42 per cent of the over 35,000 eligible Kashmiri migrant voters exercised their right to vote. While 27 per cent cast their votes at 19 polling stations in Jammu, 40 per cent at four polling stations in Delhi and 30 per cent at one polling station in Udhampur.
In each of the seven constituencies where voting was held in the first phase, voter turnout surpassed the turnout during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the election commission said in a statement.The performance is based on the trend observed during the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which saw 58.58 per cent voter turnout at polling stations, the highest in the last 35 years.
Voting began at 7 a.m. and continued steadily throughout the day. Men and women, young and old, some too frail to walk and others patiently waiting their turn, queued outside polling booths across the Kashmir Valley and Jammu.
Security forces were deployed to make sure there were no problems. The day passed virtually without incident, except for reports of clashes between political workers in some areas of Bijbehara and D H Pora.
