J&K records around 64% overall voter turnout

Jammu, Oct 3: Male voters managed a slender lead over their female counterparts in three-phased J&K assembly elections, which concluded on October 1, recording around 64 percent overall voter turnout.

However, in the third and final phase of elections, covering 40 assembly segments of seven districts, women voters outperformed men, by registering 70.02 percent turnout.

Polling percentage in case of male voters was 69.37 percent in the final phase, which saw overall turnout of 69.69 percent. Third-gender poll turnout was 43.86 percent.

As per revised estimates of the Election Commission of India, J&K recorded an overall voter turnout of 63.88 percent in three-phased assembly elections 2024, as against 58.58 percent in 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Overall male turnout in three-phases was 64.68 percent against 63.04 percent of female turnout. Overall third-gender turnout was recorded 38.24 percent.

“Voting turnout trends at the polling stations on the poll day was facilitated by the Commission through its Voter turnout App, every two hours starting 9.30 am (on October 1) onwards. CEO J&K has confirmed that all polling parties have returned safely and scrutiny has completed in the presence of the candidates and their authorised agents. Final votes polled will be available post-counting with counting of postal ballots,” ECI has mentioned while releasing revised polling data.

Postal ballots include postal ballots given to service voters, absentee voters (85 plus), PwD (Persons with Disability), Essential Services etc and voters on election duty. “Daily accounts of such postal ballots received, as per established guidelines, are given to all candidates,” ECI has stated.

As per revised estimates of 40 assembly segments, which went to polls in the third and last phase on October 1, in Kashmir division, Karnah recorded 69.88 percent voter turnout, males with 69 percent turnout lagging behind females who registered 70.54 percent females. There was 100 percent turnout in the case of the third gender.

In Trehgam, there was overall voter turnout of 66.98 percent (68.86 percent males and 65.12 percent females) and in Kupwara, it was 64.25 percent (65.97 percent males and 62.57 percent females).

In Lolab, overall turnout was 64.73 percent where women with 65.37 percent surpassed men who recorded 64.09 percent turnout. Handwara saw 72.78 percent turnout with women taking slender lead with 72.89 percent over men who recorded 72.66 percent turnout. Third gender recorded 100 percent turnout.

In Langate, over turnout was 63.89 percent (66.14 percent males and 61.64 percent females); in Sopore, it was 45.32 percent (50.41 percent males and 40.31 percent females); Rafiabad saw 62.38 percent turnout (64.30 percent males, 60.36 percent females and 100 percent third gender); in Uri, it was 69.86 percent wherein women voters (69.91 percent) slightly surged ahead of men (69.81 percent) and Baramulla saw 53.90 percent turnout (58.85 percent males and 48.94 percent females).

Gulmarg registered 71.37 percent turnout (71.99 percent males, 70.74 percent females and 100 percent third gender); Wagoora-Kreeri saw 60.81 percent turnout (males 64.63 percent and females 56.87 percent); in Pattan, it was 67.61 percent (males71.79 percent and females 63.50 percent); in Sonawari, it was 69.80 percent (males 71.45 percent, females 68.11 percent and third gender 50 percent; Bandipora saw 63.42 percent turnout (males 65.24 percent, females 61.51 percent and third gender 50 percent) and Gurez (ST) registered 78.04 percent turnout and here also women with 79.85 percent surpassed men (76.41 percent).

In Jammu division’s Udhampur district, all four assembly segments saw women voters outperforming men.

Udhampur West recorded 77.07 percent turnout, women (78.90 percent) taking lead over men (75.35 percent); Udhampur East saw 77.68 percent turnout with women (82.30 percent) surpassing men (73.45 percent); Chenani recorded 76.90 percent turnout with women turnout of 80.99 percent and men 73.27 percent and in Ramnagar (SC), turnout was 72.34 percent with women recording 78.89 percent and men 66.50 percent.

Kathua district’s all six segments also demonstrated a similar trend with women outperforming men voters.

Bani saw voter turnout of 72.73 percent (males 67.15 percent, females 79.01 percent and third gender 100 percent); in Billawar it was 72.01 percent (male 64.94 percent and females 79.77 percent; Basohli saw 69.37 percent (male 60.81 percent, females 78.81 percent and third gender 100 percent); in Jasrota, voter turnout was 74.36 percent (male 70.79 percent and female 78.27 percent); Kathua (SC), it was 75.53 percent (males 74.59 percent and females 76.57 percent) and Hiranagar, it was 74.60 percent (male 71.31 percent and females 78.16 percent).

In Samba district again, women voters took the lead over men in all three assembly segments.

Ramgarh (SC) recorded 76.73 percent turnout (male 74.14 percent and female 79.43 percent); in Samba, it was 74.99 percent (male 72.43 percent and females 77.67 percent) and in Vijaypur, voter turnout was 77.94 percent (male 77.94 percent, females 77.95 percent and third gender 50 percent).

In the case of Jammu district, its eleven assembly segments demonstrated mixed trends. Bishnah, Suchetgah, Nagrota, Akhnoor and Chhamb were the assembly segments, which saw women voters outperforming men. Meanwhile, election authorities said that all arrangements were in place for counting on October 8.

In Jammu, counting will take place at M A M College and Government Polytechnic College.