In this initial phase, 24 assembly constituencies across seven districts, including Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban in the Chenab valley, and Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, and Shopian in South Kashmir, are in play. Political parties and independent candidates have wrapped up their campaigns, leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to mobilize voters across the region.
A total of 3,276 polling stations have been established for this phase, with 302 located in urban areas and 2,974 in rural regions. Each station will be staffed by four election officials, including a Presiding Officer, with more than 14,000 staff members deployed across the districts.
The electorate for this phase includes 23,27,580 eligible voters, with 11,76,462 male voters, 11,51,058 female voters, and 60 from the third gender. Among them, 1.23 lakh young voters aged 18-19, 28,309 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and 15,774 senior citizens aged 85 and above are also set to cast their votes.
Polling will be conducted from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. A mock poll will precede the actual voting, and if voters are still in line after 6:00 pm, they will be allowed to vote.
To ensure accessibility and comfort, all polling stations will be equipped with basic amenities like drinking water, electricity, toilets, ramps, and seating arrangements. Special provisions have been made for the differently-abled, senior citizens, and first-time voters, including separate queues and wheelchairs. Additionally, 24 polling booths will be designated as ‘Pink Polling Stations’ managed by women, 24 by specially-abled staff, and 24 by youth. Green polling stations have been set up to promote environmental awareness.
Enhanced Security Measures in Place
To ensure a peaceful and transparent election, a multi-tiered security apparatus has been deployed across Jammu and Kashmir. Inspector General of Police for Kashmir Zone, V. K. Birdi, confirmed that extensive security arrangements are in place, involving Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF), Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police, and JK Police.
“Our aim is to ensure free, fair, and fearless elections, allowing the maximum number of people to participate in the democratic process,” Birdi said. “The security grid remains on high alert to prevent any attempts at destabilizing the situation during the polls.”
The assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will take place in three phases. Following tomorrow’s vote for 24 seats, the second phase, covering 26 seats, is scheduled for September 25, with the third phase on October 1 for 40 seats. The vote counting will take place on October 8, determining the future political direction of the region.
