Voters line up to vote at the border polling station in 84 Nowshera Assembly Constituency in Rajouri district of J&K
Srinagar/New Delhi: 26 Assembly Constituencies, spread across six districts saw peaceful polling across 3502 polling stations set up for voters in Phase 2 in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
Young voters reflected the aspirations of peace, democracy and progress as there were 1.2 lakh first-time voters in the age of 18-19 for phase 2 in J&K.
Polling for the third phase will be held on October 1 while counting of votes is scheduled for October 8, 2024.
The provisional voter turnout figures of 57.03% as of 11.45 pm will continue to be updated Assembly Constituency-wise on the Voter Turnout App by the Returning Officers, as and when the polling parties formally close the poll and return from the polling stations based on the geographical and logistical conditions and after scrutiny of statutory papers and consideration of repolls, if any.
In all 239 candidates were in the fray including 233 men and 6 women candidates in this phase of the elections. The six districts that went to polls in Phase 2 are – Budgam, Ganderbal, Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi and Srinagar.
In the penultimate phase of the elections to the Jammu-Kashmir Legislative Assembly, voters queued up in long lines at the Polling Stations dotting the picturesque landscape and carried forward the momentum witnessed during Phase 1. Voting across 26 ACs which commenced at 7 am today was held peacefully without any incidents of violence.
The overall voter turnout recorded in the six districts that went to polls in Phase 2 has also surpassed the turnout recorded in Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Phase-1 of the Jammu-Kashmir Assembly elections had also witnessed an encouraging response from voters with a voter turnout of 61.38% at Polling Stations across 24 Assembly Constituencies.
Earlier in the day, interacting with media at Nirvachan Sadan, CEC Rajiv Kumar said that these elections are “history in the making”, the echoes of which will be carried through posterity. He added that the valleys and the mountains which had once witnessed fear and boycott, are now taking part in the democratic festivities or “Jashn-e-Jamhuriyat”.
Strong security measures were in place creating a conducive environment for voters to cast their vote without fear or intimidation. Webcasting was in place in all polling stations to ensure transparency of the voting process.
While demonstrating the visuals emerging live from the Polling Stations in Jammu & Kashmir, CEC Kumar lauded the voters seen patiently waiting for their turn to vote at the Polling Stations and said that it is a resounding statement of their belief in democracy.
Kashmiri migrant voters were also empowered to exercise their franchise through 24 Special Polling Stations set up in Jammu (19), Udhampur (1) and Delhi (4). Earlier, the Commission had eased the process for Kashmiri migrant voters by abolishing the cumbersome Form-M and enabling self-certification.
Home-voting facility, introduced for the first time in Assembly elections in J&K saw democracy being taken to the doorsteps of those who are bound by physical limitations. Many voters aged above 85 years and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) with 40% benchmark disability opted to vote from the comfort of their homes. The entire process was videographed to ensure transparency while preserving the secrecy of the ballot.
– global bihari bureau
