For the first time in 10 years, voters in seven districts of Jammu and Kashmir will participate in Assembly elections as phase 1 of polling begins on Wednesday.
Over 23 lakh eligible voters will cast their ballots to determine the fate of 219 candidates across 24 Assembly constituencies—eight in Jammu and 16 in Kashmir. Among the 219 candidates are 90 independents, competing for the people’s mandate.
According to the Election Commission, a total of 23,27,580 voters will take part in the polls. This includes 11.76 lakh male voters, 11.51 lakh female voters, and 60 third-gender electors. Notably, 1.23 lakh youths aged 18-19 years, 28,309 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and 15,774 senior citizens above the age of 85 are also eligible to vote in this phase.
A total of 14,000 polling staff will manage the election process across 3,276 polling stations, ensuring a smooth voting experience. These stations are divided into 302 urban and 2,974 rural polling sites.
Extensive security arrangements have been made by Jammu and Kashmir Police, supported by Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) and J-K Armed Police, to ensure the safety and security of voters.
