At 58.5%, J&K records highest overall turnout in 35 years

NEW DELHI: The 58.5% overall turnout in Jammu & Kashmir, where polling concluded on Saturday, was the highest in 35 years.
While the turnout in Srinagar parliamentary constituency this time rose to 38.5% from 14.4% in 2019, it climbed to 54.9% from 9% in Anantnag-Rajouri seat and to 59.1% from 34.6% in Baramulla seat over the same period. The 2024 polling percentages were however lower in Jammu region as compared to 2019, showing a slight dip of 0.3 percentage points for Jammu and 1.9 percentage points for Udhampur.

As regards Kashmir Valley, three parliamentary constituencies - Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag-Rajouri - recorded the highest combined turnout of 50.9% in three decades.Data shared by the EC on Monday put the 2019 combined turnout figure for the three Valley seats at a mere 19.2%, which is 30 percentage points lower than 2024. The comparison may however not be perfect as the geographical limits of Anantnag had undergone some significant changes during delimitation in 2020-21, with parts of Jammu division's Rajouri district added to it.

EC on Monday termed the high turnout in J&K a testament to robust democratic spirit and civil engagement of its people. "The voter turnout of 50.86% from the three seats in Kashmir Valley echoes the faith of the people in the democratic process," it said in a statement.
Chief commissioner Rajiv Kumar, while thanking the voters of J&K, stated: "This achievement sits on a credible wave of 25% increase in the number of contesting candidates since 2019, C-vigil complaints showing enhnaced citizen involvement and Suvidha portal showing 2,455 requests for rallies etc, reflecting the steady retaking of the election and campaign space away from hesitation and to fuller particpation".

EC sought to attribute the high turnout by the younger voters in the age group 18-39 years. This particular age category accounted for 56% of the electorate in Baramulla, 48.6% in Srinagar, 54.4% in Anantnag-Rajouri and 47.7% in Jammu.

Also, 26 special polling stations - including 21 in Jammu, 4 in Delhi, and 1 at Udhampur - were set up to facilitate voting by displaced Kashmiri migrants.
Recounting EC's efforts to boost voter participation in J&K, the poll body said adventure sports, symposiums, awareness rallies, nukkad natak and numerous other events were organised to propagate the message of voting. Other activities included creating Igloos as a dummy polling station in Baramulla, para scooter event in Kathua, mega awareness rallies in Teetwal near LOC, near Dal Lake in Srinagar to Chougan in Kishtwar and playing instrumental version of ECI song on the highest railway bridge. Musical programmes were showcased at many hotspots by the famous singers.