Jammu/Srinagar: The third and final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections kicked off on Tuesday, covering 40 constituencies spread across seven districts, including Jammu, the winter capital. Over 39.18 lakh eligible voters will determine the fate of 415 candidates, including former deputy chief ministers Tara Chand and Muzaffar Baig. Notably, West Pakistani refugees, along with the Valmiki Samaj and Gorkha community, will vote for the first time in assembly polls after gaining rights following the 2019 revocation of Article 370.
Polling commenced at 7 am in 16 assembly segments in the northern Kashmir districts of Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora under stringent security measures. Simultaneously, voting began in 24 constituencies in the Jammu region, including Udhampur, Samba, and Kathua. Over 400 companies of security forces have been deployed to ensure a safe electoral process.
The previous phases saw high voter turnout, with 61.38% in the first phase and 57.31% in the second. The Election Commission has set up 5,060 polling stations with complete webcasting, including special facilities like pink polling stations managed by women and stations designed for persons with disabilities. The election results are expected to be declared on October 8. To encourage maximum voter turnout, the Election Commission has introduced several unique initiatives. A total of 5,060 polling stations have been established, with 100% webcasting to ensure transparency. Special arrangements include 240 ‘special’ polling stations, 50 ‘pink’ stations exclusively managed by women, and 43 polling stations staffed by persons with disabilities. Additionally, 45 ‘green’ polling stations have been set up to promote environmental consciousness, while 29 polling stations are located near the Line of Control and the International Border to accommodate border residents. For migrant voters from Kashmir, 24 ‘special’ polling stations have been arranged, including 19 in Jammu, four in Delhi, and one in Udhampur. Comprehensive security measures have been implemented at each polling site to ensure a peaceful voting process, with polling scheduled to conclude by 6 pm.
