J&K records highest voter turnout in 35 years: CEC

New Delhi, May 27: The Election Commission of India on Monday said that the voter turnout in Jammu & Kashmir in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls was the highest in a parliament election in the last 35 years.
The poll-body said that overall voter turnout for the entire Union Territory in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls stood at 58.46 percent. “In a massive stride for India’s electoral polity, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed its highest poll participation in the last 35 years. The combined voter turnout (VTR) at the polling stations for the entire Union Territory (5 Lok Sabha seats) was 58.46 % in the general elections 2024. This significant participation is a testament to the robust democratic spirit and civic engagement of the people in the region,” the ECI said.
The Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said “this active participation is a huge positive for Assembly elections to be held soon so that the democratic process continues to thrive in the Union Territory”.
“This achievement sits on a credible weave of 25% increase in number of contesting candidates since 2019, C-vigil complaints showing enhanced citizen involvement and Suvidha Portal showing 2455 requests for rallies etc., reflecting the steady retaking of the election & campaign space away from hesitation and to fuller participation. Compared this outcome of the layered depth of electoral mobilization and participation, as reminiscent of the fame and deft of the legendary Kashmiri artisanal weave. This active participation is a huge positive for Assembly elections to be held soon so that the democratic process continues to thrive in the Union Territory,’” he said.
The Commission said that the voter turnout of 50.86% from the three parliamentary constituencies in the Kashmir Valley echoes the faith of the people in the democratic process.
“The poll participation percentage witnessed 30 points jump from the last GE in 2019 where it was 19.16%,” the poll-body said
The parliamentary segments of Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag-Rajouri recorded voter turnout of 38.49%, 59.1% and 54.84% respectively, which has been highest in last three decades.
The other two parliamentary constituencies namely Udhampur and Jammu recorded 68.27% and 72.22% voter turnout respectively.