The Election Commission (EC) on Friday came out with a latest figure of voter turn out of 61.38 percent in the 24 assembly constituencies in the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir polls. This is higher than the corresponding 60 percent turnout figure recorded in 2014 assembly polls and 50.3 percent polling in 2024 LS polls.  While the total male turnout stood at 63.75 per cent, total female turnout, data showed was at 58.96 per cent. Third gender turnout was recorded at 40 per cent, EC data showed.

Highest voting was recorded in Inderwal seat with about 82.16 per cent followed by Kishtwar seat, with about 78.24 per cent voter turnout, according to the poll panel. Tral assembly constituency recorded lowest voter turn out of 43.56 percent, followed by Pampore of 45.01 percent and Rajpora 48.44 percent. Pulwama recorded 50.78 percent voter turn out. The constituencies that voted on September 18 included Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, DH Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, Pahalgam – all in South Kashmir, once a militancy hot bed.

Bahihal recorded voter turn out of 71.28 percent, Ramban 69.67 percent, Doda West 75.98 percent, Doda 72.49 percent, Bhadawah 67.12 percent, Paddernagseni 80.67 percent, Kishtwar 78.24 percent,  Pahalgam 71.26 percent, Shangus-Anantnag East 56.72 percent, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, 60.43 percent, Anantnag 45.62 percent,  Anantnag west 48.73 percent, Kokernag ( ST) 62.25 percent, Dooru 61.62 percent, Devsar 57.76 percent, Kulgam 63.44 percent, DH Pora 68.88 percent and Shopian 58.51 percent.

Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing first assembly election in ten years with first phase held peacefully in Union Territory (UT) on September 18. The last assembly poll was held in the erstwhile state in 2018.

This election also marks the beginning of three-phase assembly polls – the first such exercise in the erstwhile state since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The 24 constituencies voting today are spread across Pir Panjal - 16 in Kashmir and eight in Jammu region. Over 23 lakh voters were scheduled to cast their ballot in phase one of the Jammu and Kashmir polls, to decide the fate of 219 candidates, including 90 independents.