The stage is set for the first phase of the 2024 General Elections to the Legislative Assembly, with 23.27 lakh voters prepared to decide the fate of 219 candidates on September 18.
This phase encompasses 24 Assembly Constituencies across seven districts in Jammu & Kashmir. In the Kashmir Division, the districts include Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, and Kulgam, while Doda, Ramban, and Kishtwar are in the Jammu Division.
Among the key highlights, Pampore Assembly Constituency has the most candidates, with 14 contenders, while Srigufwara-Bijbehara has the fewest, with just three. To ensure a transparent election process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has set up 3,276 polling stations, 302 of which are in urban areas and 2,974 in rural areas, with full webcasting at each station. Special provisions include Pink Polling Stations managed by women, booths staffed by specially-abled individuals and youth, green stations to promote environmental awareness, and 17 unique polling stations.
Voter Demographics and Participation Initiatives
The electorate includes 23,27,580 eligible voters, composed of 11,76,462 males, 11,51,058 females, and 60 third-gender voters. Of these, 5.66 lakh are young voters aged 18 to 29, including 1,23,960 first-time voters. Additionally, 28,309 persons with disabilities (PwDs) and 15,774 voters above the age of 85 will be participating in this phase.
District-wise, Anantnag leads with 6,67,843 registered voters across seven constituencies. Doda, with three constituencies, has 3,10,613 voters. Kulgam boasts 3,28,782 registered voters, and Pulwama accounts for 4,07,637 voters across four constituencies.
The Candidates
A total of 64 candidates are running in Anantnag, 45 in Pulwama, 27 in Doda, 25 in Kulgam, 22 in Kishtwar, 21 in Shopian, and 15 in Ramban. Pampore Assembly Constituency has the most contestants, with 14 candidates competing for the seat.
To enhance voter accessibility, the ECI has implemented initiatives such as specially-abled polling stations, booths managed by youth, and a voter-friendly schedule. Polling will take place from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM across all constituencies.
With heightened security and stringent measures in place to ensure fair and transparent elections, Jammu & Kashmir is ready for the commencement of its legislative elections in this pivotal phase.