NEW DELHI: Polling for the third and final phase of the
Jammu and Kashmir election
concluded peacefully on Tuesday, with the Valley recording 65.58 per cent turnout till 7 pm.
According to data shared by the Election Commission of India (ECI), Udhampur saw the highest poll percentage of 72.91, followed by Samba 72.41 per cent, Kathua 70.53 per cent, Jammu 66.79 per cent, Bandipora 64.85 per cent, Kupwara 62.
76 per cent and Baramulla 55.73 per cent.
The ECI said in a press release that the polling for the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections concluded today in a peaceful and celebratory atmosphere.
The final phase of polling was held in the seven districts of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar told news agency PTI that "J&K Assembly elections have marked a significant deepening of democracy, which will echo in the pages of history and continue to inspire a democratic spirit of the region for years to come. He dedicated these elections to the people of J&K, acknowledging their determination and belief in the
democratic process
. The peaceful and participative elections are historic, wherein democracy is taking root more profoundly than ever before, driven by the will of the people of J&K."
"These elections have witnessed a significant increase in
voter turnout
in areas which have been infamous for militancy and boycotting democratic processes.
Polling percentage
has increased by 12.97 per cent in Pulwama AC in the Legislative Assembly Elections 2024 compared to the corresponding elections held in 2014. Zainapora AC in Shopian saw a 9.52 per cent increase while Eidgah AC in Srinagar registered a 9.16 per cent increase, reflecting growing confidence in the
electoral process
," the release stated.
Kashmiri Migrant voters
were also empowered to exercise their franchise through 24 special polling stations setup in Jammu (19), Udhampur (1) and Delhi (4).
First two phases
Total voter turnout in Phase 2 of the ongoing J&K election was 57.3%, higher than the 52.2% polling recorded in 2024 Lok Sabha polls but lower than the 61.8% turnout in 2014 assembly polls as well as 61.4% in Phase 1 of the current poll.
While the overall female voters’ turnout for
Phase 2 polling
in J&K, at 56.2%, was 2.1 percentage points less than 58.3% male polling percentage, women’s turnout exceeded that of men in 11 of 26 assembly constituencies that voted on Wednesday. Ten of these 11 constituencies are in Jammu division, while only one — Khansahib — is in Kashmir Valley.
Turnouts were higher across the Valley’s Budgam, Ganderbal and Srinagar districts as compared to 2024 LS polls, but significantly lower in Ganderbal and Budgam, when compared with the 2014 assembly polls. Though Srinagar district recorded a low turnout of around 30.1%, it was better than the 24.8% and 27.7% polling recorded in both 2024 LS elections and 2014 J&K polls respectively.
The counting of votes is scheduled on October 8.
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