J&K makes an indelible mark on India’s electoral history with highest voter turnout in a General Election in last 35 years. Active participation of the people of J&K is a huge positive for upcoming assembly elections in the UT of J&K
In a remarkable show of democratic spirit, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed its highest voter turnout in the last 35 years during the recently concluded General Elections 2024.
The combined voter turnout across the 5 Lok Sabha constituencies in the UT stood at an impressive 58.46%, a significant increase from the 19.16% recorded in the 2019 polls.
This massive participation, lauded by the Election Commission of India (ECI), is a testament to the robust civic engagement and faith in the democratic process among the people of the region. The Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, conveyed their compliments to the voters of Jammu and Kashmir and thanked the polling personnel and security officials for ensuring peaceful conduct of the elections. Rajiv Kumar highlighted the 25% increase in the number of contesting candidates since 2019, the enhanced citizen involvement reflected in the C-Vigil complaints, and the 2,455 requests for rallies on the Suvidha Portal as indicators of the steady reclamation of the election and campaign space. He likened the layered depth of electoral mobilization and participation to the legendary Kashmiri artisanal weave, renowned for its intricate craftsmanship.
The Kashmir Valley, comprising the parliamentary constituencies of Srinagar, Baramulla, and Anantnag-Rajouri, witnessed a remarkable voter turnout of 50.86%, a 30-point jump from the 2019 figures. Srinagar recorded a 38.49% turnout, Baramulla 59.1%, and Anantnag-Rajouri 54.84% – the highest in the last three decades. The Udhampur and Jammu constituencies also saw impressive turnouts of 68.27% and 72.22%, respectively.
The historic participation was made possible by the tireless efforts of election and security officials, who worked to empower the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth, to exercise their democratic rights. The high poll percentage in the 18-59 age group, which forms the majority of electors in the UT, reflects the growing faith in democracy among the region’s younger population.
The ECI also facilitated the participation of Kashmiri migrant voters residing in relief camps in Delhi, Jammu, and Udhampur by establishing 21 special polling stations in Jammu, 1 in Udhampur, and 4 in Delhi, where they could vote in person or through postal ballots. The separate Union Territory of Ladakh, constituted in 2019, also witnessed an enthusiastic response, with a voter turnout of 71.82%.
Extensive awareness and outreach activities were organized as part of the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) program in Jammu and Kashmir. The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, organized adventure sports events, symposiums, awareness rallies, street plays, and numerous other events to promote voter participation. Innovative initiatives included creating igloo-shaped dummy polling stations in Baramulla, a para-scooter event in Kathua, sensitization during the Beating the Retreat ceremony at the Suchetgarh border, a mega awareness rally in Teetwal near the Line of Control, and playing the instrumental version of the ECI song on the highest railway bridge. Musical programs and activities were also conducted at various locations, including Lal Chowk, Gulmarg, Kulgam, and Anantnag, featuring famous singers.
The record voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir is a resounding victory for democracy and a positive sign for the upcoming Assembly elections in the Union Territory. As Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar stated, this active participation is a huge positive development, ensuring that the democratic process continues to thrive in the region.
