Jammu Kashmir Assembly Elections: Voter turnout across 26 seats stands over 54%, Srinagar shows poor performance

Voting began on Wednesday for the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, with over 2.5 million voters set to decide the fate of 239 candidates contesting 26 seats.

The constituencies are spread across six districts—three in the Jammu division and three in the Kashmir Valley.

A voter turnout of 54.11 percent was recorded till 7 pm in the second phase of polling in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, as per the Election Commission of India.


Budgam recorded 58.97 pc, Ganderbal 58.81 pc, Poonch 71.59 pc, Rajouri 68.22 pc, Reasi 71.81 pc and Srinagar 27.37 pc till 7pm, as per the date shared by the ECI.

"Voting took place in a tranquil atmosphere free of fear and intimidation. Voters inhabiting the areas near the border were also empowered to exercise their franchise at 55 border polling stations set up near the LoC in 89 Poonch Haveli and 90 Mendhar AC in Poonch district and 51 such polling stations in Rajouri district. These border polling stations saw voting today in line with the Commission's resolve to bring even the remotest corners of the country into the democratic fold," ECI said in a release on Wednesday

"As of 7 PM, a voter turnout of 54.11% was recorded at the polling stations. The overall voter turnout recorded in these six districts that went for polls in Phase 2 have also surpassed the turnout recorded in Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Phase-1 of the Jammu-Kashmir Assembly elections had also witnessed an encouraging response by voters with a voter turnout of 61.38% at Polling Station across 24 ACs," the ECI said in a statement.

A total of 3,502 polling stations were established, including special polling stations such as 26 'pink polling stations' run by women and 26 polling stations manned by specially-abled individuals.

Key candidates in this phase include former chief minister Omar Abdullah, JKPCC president Tariq Hamid Karra, and BJP J&K chief Ravinder Raina. Abdullah is contesting from Ganderbal and Budgam, while Raina looks to retain his Nowshera seat.

Contesting in this phase of key state elections are 93 candidates from Srinagar district, followed by 46 from Budgam, 34 in Rajouri district, 25 in Poonch district, 21 in Ganderbal district and 20 in Reasi district.

The constituencies in Srinagar district are Hazratbal, Khanyar, Habbakadal, Lal Chowk, Channapora, Zadibal, Central Shalteng and Eidgah.

Budgam district has the following seats: Budgam, Beerwah, Khansahib, Chrar-I-Sharief and Chadoora, while there are two constituencies in Ganderbal district -- Kangan (ST) and Ganderbal.

Gulabgarh (ST), Reasi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (in Reasi district), Kalakote-Sunderbani, Nowshera, Rajouri (ST) (in Rajouri district), Budhal (ST), Thannamandi (ST), Surankote (ST), Poonch Haveli and Mendhar (ST) (Poonch district) are the seats going to polls in Jammu division.

In the first phase of voting on September 18, over 61% of the electorate turned out.

The third phase of polling will be held on October 1, with results to be declared on October 8. Voting for this phase will conclude at 6 PM today.

Here is voter turnout by 7 pm across six districts

• Budgam: 58.97%
• Ganderbal: 58.81%
• Poonch: 71.59%
• Rajouri: 68.2%
• Reasi: 71.81%
• Srinagar: 27.37%