The third and final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections saw a remarkable voter turnout of *69.65 percent* on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in the region’s democratic process. This election was especially historic as it allowed three communities—West Pakistan Refugees, Valmikis, and Gurkhas—to exercise their voting rights for the first time in 75 years.
The *Election Commission of India (ECI)* confirmed the turnout in an official statement, emphasizing that this phase was conducted peacefully amid tight security measures. “The polling in phase 3 of the elections to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir recorded an approximate voter turnout of 69.65 percent,” the ECI stated. Live updates on voter turnout will continue to be available through the Voter Turnout App as polling parties return.
*Udhampur district* reported the highest voter turnout at *76.09 percent, followed closely by **Samba district* with three assembly segments. Other notable turnouts included *Kathua district* at *73.34 percent* and *Jammu district* with *71.40 percent. In contrast, the lowest turnout was recorded in **Baramulla district* at *61.03 percent*.
The overall voter turnout across all three phases of the elections stood at *63.45 percent, surpassing the turnout recorded during the recent Lok Sabha elections in the Union Territory. The first phase, held on September 18, saw **61.38 percent* turnout, while the second phase recorded *57.31 percent*.
A significant number of over *39.18 lakh* eligible voters participated in the final phase. Notably, the highest turnout was in the *Marh assembly segment* of Jammu district, where *81.47 percent* of registered voters cast their votes. Other segments with high participation included *Chhamb* at *80.34 percent* and *Akhnoor* at *79.73 percent*.
While the turnout in the final phase was commendable, it represented a decline compared to the 2014 assembly elections. Most constituencies experienced a drop in turnout of *1 to 15 percent, attributed to ongoing farming activities during the election period. However, some areas like **Sopore, traditionally a stronghold of separatist sentiment, showed improvement, recording **41.44 percent* compared to *30.79 percent* in 2014.
The elections began at *7 am* and concluded at *6 pm, with a total of **415 candidates* vying for election, including former deputy chief ministers *Tara Chand* and *Muzaffar Baig. The votes will be counted on **October 8*.
Long queues formed outside polling stations throughout the day, reflecting the enthusiasm of voters who participated in their first assembly elections since the abrogation of *Article 370* in August 2019. The high voter turnout is seen as a strong indicator of the public’s commitment to democratic values and governance in Jammu and Kashmir.
