Jammu and Kashmir: ECI announces three-phase assembly polls from September 18

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajeev Kumar announced on Friday that Jammu & Kashmir will hold a three-phase assembly election beginning on September 18, with the final vote counting scheduled for October 6.

Kumar, addressing a press conference here, confirmed, “We promised the shortest Assembly poll schedule, and we stand by our word. The first phase of the elections will take place on September 18, followed by the second phase on September 25, and the third phase on October 1. Counting of votes will be conducted on October 4”.

Kumar revealed that the upcoming elections will involve 90 Assembly constituencies—74 general, 7 reserved for Scheduled Castes, and 9 for Scheduled Tribes. A total of 87.9 lakh voters are eligible to participate, with 44.46 lakh male and 42.36 lakh female voters. “The Amarnath Yatra concludes on August 19, and the final electoral rolls will be published on August 20. Copies will be provided to all political parties,” Kumar said.

Accompanied by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, the CEC detailed the polling infrastructure in J&K, noting, “There are 11,838 total polling stations spread across 9,169 locations, predominantly in rural areas. Additionally, there will be 360 model polling stations.”

Kumar said the change in political engagement since the last Lok Sabha elections, highlighting a significant increase in voter participation. “We observed thriving political participation, intense campaigns, and a shift in the security situation. We aim to further strengthen democracy,” he said. The CEC also expressed optimism about increased voter turnout, particularly among women and youth.

Kumar added that the enthusiasm witnessed during the Lok Sabha elections laid the groundwork for the upcoming assembly polls. “There is a strong desire to strengthen democracy. The long queues during the last elections were not just about voting but symbolised the hope of the people and their determination to shape their own future,” he said.

The CEC praised the voters of Jammu and Kashmir, stating, “This election is a triumph of ballots over bullets. The Valley has rejected violence and chosen to express their voice through the democratic process”.

Kumar also mentioned that special provisions have been made for migrant voters, including self-attestation for voting. The CEC concluded by noting that the Lok Sabha elections in J&K were largely incident-free, with no re-polls required, and highlighted the significant seizure of Rs 100 crore worth of drugs and liquor during the election period.