The Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed its highest voter turnout in 35 years, with 58.46% of eligible voters casting their ballots, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI). Out of 8,726,281 eligible voters, 5,111,550 participated in the electoral process.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, commended the polling personnel and security officials for ensuring peaceful elections. The neighboring Union Territory of Ladakh also saw a significant turnout of 71.82%.
The ECI highlighted a 25% increase in the number of contesting candidates since 2019, alongside enhanced citizen involvement as evidenced by C-vigil complaints and 2,455 requests for rallies on the Suvidha Portal. This increase in participation indicates a renewed enthusiasm for the democratic process in the region. Kumar likened this active engagement to the intricate craftsmanship of the famous Kashmiri artisanal weave, expressing optimism for the upcoming Assembly elections in the UT.
However, direct comparisons of voter turnout across the five parliamentary constituencies—Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag-Rajouri, Udhampur, and Jammu—are not feasible due to the recent delimitation exercise that redrew constituency borders, a point acknowledged by the ECI.
Voter turnout in the three Valley constituencies was notable: Srinagar recorded 38.49%, Baramulla 59.1%, and Anantnag-Rajouri 54.84%. These figures represent the highest turnout in the last three decades for these areas. The constituencies of Udhampur and Jammu saw even higher participation, with 68.27% and 72.22% respectively.
Anantnag-Rajouri went to the polls in the sixth phase on May 25. The ECI has not yet released the absolute number of votes cast in this constituency. However, as of 5:15 PM on May 27, the Voter Turnout App indicated a 55.40% turnout for Anantnag-Rajouri.
This significant voter engagement is seen as a positive sign for the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir, paving the way for the forthcoming Assembly elections.
