In the first major electoral exercise after Article 370 abrogation and the bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir into two Union Territories, the Valley has recorded the combined poll percentage of 58. 46 per cent for the five Parliamentary seats, which is the record highest voter turnout in last 35 years, witnessing a “massive” 30 points jump in poll participation compared to 2019.
Data shared by the Election Commission (EC) shows that the voter turnout of 50.86 per cent from the three Parliamentary constituencies in the Kashmir Valley echoes the faith of the people in the democratic process. The poll participation percentage witnessed 30 points jump from the last Lok Sabha polls in 2019 when it was 19.16 per cent. The three seats in the Valley — Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag-Rajouri — recorded turnout of 38.49 per cent, 59.1 per cent and 54.84 per cent respectively, the highest in last three decades. The other two seats in the UT — Udhampur and Jammu — recorded 68.27 per cent and 72.22 per cent voter turnout respectively.
According to data, as against 58 per cent voting reported in five LS seats in J&K this year, 44.07 per cent polling was reported in 2019, 49.58 per cent in 2014, 39.04 per cent in 2009, 34.07 per cent in 2004, 30.89 per cent in 1999, 43.35 per cent in 1998, 47.99 per cent in 1996 and 29.93 per cent voter turnout in 1989. Notably, Baramulla had witnessed 5.48 per cent polling in 1989; 46.65 per cent in 1996; 41.94 per cent in 1998 and 34.6 per cent in 2019. Anantnag witnessed voting at 8.98 per cent in 2019 and around 5 per cent in 1989.
According to EC, more young people have asserted their faith and embraced democracy in a big way. Another interesting perspective is the electors in the age group of 18-59 years form the major part of electors in the UT, it underlined. As per data, Baramulla witnessed voter turnout (between age group of 18 and 39) at 56.02 per cent voting. Srinagar at 48.57 per cent; Anantnag Rajouri at 54.41 per cent; Udhampur 53.57 per cent and Jammu at 47.66 per cent.
Between 40 and 59 age groups, Baramulla, Srinagar, Anantnag-Rajouri, Udhampur and Jammu witnessed voters turnout at 30.85 per cent, 34.87 per cent, 31.59 per cent, 32.65 per cent and 35.28 per cent respectively. If it is combined (between 18 to 59 age group), Baramulla, Srinagar, Anantnag Rajouri, Udhampur and Jammu recorded at 86.87 per cent, 83.44 per cent, 86.00 per cent,86.22 per cent and 82.94 per cent respectively.
The EC said 18-59 years age group constitutes over 80 per cent of the electorate in each of the five Lok Sabha seats of the Union Territory. The historic participation in the UT was realised by earnest efforts of the election and security officials who had worked tirelessly to empower the people of J&K, especially the youth to participate in the elections.
The high poll percentage in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls is reflective of their faith in democracy, which is a positive and heartening development, the EC stressed. The commission has also enabled Kashmiri migrant voters residing at various relief camps in Delhi, Jammu, and Udhampur to also have the option of voting in person at designated special polling stations or using postal ballot. 21 Special Polling Stations were established at Jammu, 1 at Udhampur and 4 at Delhi. Ladakh, which was constituted as a separate Union Territory in 2019, also saw an enthusiastic response to the call of democracy as reflected in the voter turnout of 71.82 per cent.
“This active participation is a huge positive for the Assembly elections to be held soon so that the democratic process continues to thrive in the Union Territory,” said Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar while responding to the turnout. Commission led by CEC Kumar along with ECs Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu thanked the polling personnel and security officials over the peaceful conduct of elections in the UT.
“This achievement sits on a credible weave of 25 per cent increase in number of contesting candidates since 2019, C-vigil complaints showing enhanced citizen involvement and Suvidha Portal showing 2455 requests for rallies etc., reflecting the steady retaking of the election and campaign space away from hesitation and to fuller participation”.
“Compared this outcome of the layered depth of electoral mobilization and participation, as reminiscent of the fame and deft of the legendary Kashmiri artisanal weave. This active participation is a huge positive for Assembly elections to be held soon so that the democratic process continues to thrive in the Union Territory”, CEC Kumar said.
On Saturday, CEC Kumar had hinted that encouraged by the voter turnout in J&K in the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission will “very soon” initiate the process of holding the assembly polls in the Union Territory.
Whenever an assembly election is held in Jammu and Kashmir, it will be the first since the August 2019 abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories with the other being Ladakh which has one Lok Sabha seat and no provision for a legislative assembly.
Following a delimitation exercise, the number of Assembly seats in J&K has gone up from 83 to 90, excluding those allocated to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In December, the Supreme Court directed the poll panel to hold Assembly elections in J&K by September 30