JAMMU, : All 24 Assembly constituencies in Jammu division are fully prepared for the third and final phase of polling tomorrow. Security personnel have taken control of polling stations and other vulnerable areas, ensuring the smooth conclusion of the first Assembly election in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir post the abrogation of Article 370.
Nearly 20,000 polling staff has been deployed for tomorrow’s voting across 40 Assembly seats. Accompanying them are a large number of paramilitary and police personnel tasked with maintaining security during the voting process. In addition, the Indian Army has been conducting anti-terror operations in the mountainous areas to ensure a terror-free election.
Focus Shifts to Counting
Once polling is completed, the focus will shift to the counting of votes, scheduled for October 8, covering all 90 seats in Jammu and Kashmir. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar confirmed that votes polled by each candidate would be displayed after every round of counting, ensuring transparency. He also reassured voters not to believe any misinformation regarding the counting process.
Women Voter Turnout
CEC Rajiv Kumar also noted an impressive higher voter turnout among women compared to male electors in 17 of the 50 constituencies where polling has already taken place. Kumar mentioned that the last two phases saw an increase in voter participation, with more candidates competing in the fray compared to previous elections.
Polling Stations and Security
Officials confirmed that all polling parties, along with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and security personnel, reached their destinations this evening to ensure that polling begins promptly at 7 am. Security has been strengthened across all polling stations to avoid any disruption during the voting process.
The Jammu district, which has the largest number of 11 Assembly seats, will be a key focus in the final phase. Other districts such as Kathua (6 seats), Udhampur (4 seats), and Samba (3 seats) will also see polling tomorrow.
Reserved Seats and New Voter Participation
The final phase of voting will include all seven Scheduled Caste (SC) reserved seats in Jammu and Kashmir. These include Akhnoor, Marh, Bishnah, Suchetgarh, Ramgarh, Kathua Main, and Ramnagar. Notably, West Pakistani refugees, Valmiki Samaj, and the Gorkha community will also participate in the Assembly elections for the first time, thanks to the abrogation of Article 370.
Previous Voting Turnout
The previous two phases saw a robust voter turnout, with 61.38% participation in the first phase on September 18 and 57.31% in the second phase on September 26. Security arrangements have been tightened to ensure a peaceful voting process in tomorrow’s polling for the remaining constituencies.
With the completion of voting tomorrow, the entire electoral process across 43 Assembly seats in Jammu division and 47 in Kashmir division will conclude.
