The much-anticipated Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, the first in over a decade, are set to take place in three phases with total of 88.3 lakh registered voters will play a their role in shaping the UT’s future, with 911 candidates, including 57 women, vying for seats.
The elections hold immense significance, coming after years of political turbulence and the abrogation of Article 370.
In the first phase, 280 nominations were submitted, with 36 rejected and 25 candidates withdrawing, leaving 219 in the fray. Similarly, the second phase saw 329 nominations, out of which 62 were rejected and 27 withdrew, bringing the final number of candidates to 239.
For the third phase, 518 candidates filed nominations, with 66 rejected. The final number of candidates for the third phase will be confirmed after the withdrawal deadline on 17 September.
A total of 57 women candidates are contesting the J&K Assembly elections, reflecting growing female political participation which marks a step toward more inclusive representation in the J&K, long considered a male-dominated political arena.
Following the final Special Summary Revision of 2024, the total number of voters in Jammu and Kashmir has risen to 88.03 lakh including 44.89 lakh male voters, 43.13 lakh female voters, and 168 third-gender voters.
The revision also added 93,000 new voters across the Union Territory, with an increase in young voters aged between 18 and 19, totaling over 45,000. The elector-population ratio saw an improvement from 0.59 to 0.60.
On August 16, Election Commission of India announced a three-phase election schedule for Jammu and Kashmir with the first phase of polling is set for 18 September, followed by the second phase on 25 September, and the final phase on 1 October. The counting of votes will take place on 8 October.
