Srinagar, Oct 03: The third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections recorded a 69.69% voter turnout, with female participation surpassing that of men, Election Commission of India said on Thursday.
The ECI said that women voters turned out in greater numbers than men, with a 70.02% female turnout compared to 69.37% male participation. This phase has set a benchmark for overall voter engagement, underscoring the increasing importance of women’s involvement in the electoral process, it said.
Across the region, the III-Phase saw higher participation in comparison to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with overall voter turnout across J&K reaching 63.88%, ECI said.
It said that polling was carried out smoothly across all constituencies. The highest turnout was recorded in the Gurez constituency, which saw an impressive 78.04% voter turnout.
It also said that a significant number of constituencies reported a voting percentage higher than 70%, including Handwara (72.78%), Sonawari (69.80%), and Udhampur West (77.07%).
ECI lauded the peaceful conduct of elections, adding that “this phase’s turnout is a testament to the people’s faith in democracy, and the increased participation of women signals a progressive shift in the electoral dynamics of J&K.
Key constituencies like Gurez, Karnah, and Udhampur reported active participation, while urban areas like Jammu East showed a relatively lower turnout of 64.35%, ECI said adding that voter turnout for male, female, and third-gender electors was tracked throughout the day, with updates shared every two hours.
“Polling parties returned safely, and scrutiny was completed in the presence of the candidates or their agents. The election process was transparent, fair and no major incidents were reported,” it added.
With peaceful elections and high voter engagement, particularly from women, the III-Phase marks a shift in the electoral history of Jammu and Kashmir, with optimism for greater civic participation in the future, it added.
DEO visits counting centres of Shopian, Zainapora
Shopian, Oct 03: The District Election Officer (DEO) Shopian, Mohammad Shahid Saleem Dar today conducted a thorough inspection of the Counting Centre at Mini Secretariat Shopian in order to ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place for counting of votes, scheduled on October 8.
During the inspection, the DEO reviewed all facilities to be kept in place at the Counting Centres, including seating arrangements for candidates, agents and other facilities for staff and other stakeholders.
He inspected the physical infrastructure being put in place including barricading for hassle free counting process, provision of IT & communication systems, security measures etc.
The DEO issued directions for ensuring that all procedures adhere strictly to Election Commission guidelines, with an emphasis on continuous monitoring.
RO Shopian, Shakoor Ahmad, Dy.DEO, Jahanger Ahmad, DIO, Showkat Hussain, DIO (Informatics) Ashfaq Ahmad and other officials also accompanied the DEO during inspection.
First randomization of counting staff held in Bandipora
Bandipora, Oct 03: In view of counting of votes scheduled on 08 October for Assembly Elections 2024, the first randomization of counting staff for the three Assembly constituencies of Bandipora District was successfully conducted today at the Mini Secretariat.
This crucial step was overseen by the District Election Officer (DEO) Bandipora, Manzoor Ahmad Qadri, ensuring a transparent and fair election process.
Returning Officers for 14 – Sonawari, 15 – Bandipora and 16 – Gurez participated in randomization through virtual mode.
To uphold the integrity of the process, the randomization was conducted using specialized software in accordance with the guidelines of the Election Commission of India. The entire procedure was video recorded, further ensuring transparency.
Following the randomization, a training program was held for the selected counting staff, during which their roles and responsibilities were thoroughly discussed ensuring that counting staff is well-prepared for the counting day.
The training programme covered various aspects, including the counting process, the handling of control units, and the importance of maintaining accuracy and impartiality.
Among others, Dy.DEO Mohammad Rafeeq Bhat, CEO Kishor Kumar, Dy.CEO Dr. G. M. Pujoo, District Informatics Officer and other concerned were present.
DEO Bandipora inspects strong room
Bandipora, Oct 03: The District Election Officer (DEO) Bandipora, Manzoor Ahmad Qadri on Thursday visited designated counting centre established at HKM Government Degree College Bandipora for Assembly Elections 2024 and inspected strong room where EVMs of three ACs of Bandipora district are securely stored.
During the visit, DEO reviewed the security measures in place to ensure the integrity and safety of the EVMs and emphasized the importance of transparency and preparedness as the counting date approaches.
It is worth mentioning that counting is scheduled to be held on 08 October in Bandipora District and EVMs will remain under high security until the counting process.
During the visit, the DEO reviewed key security elements, including round-the-clock CCTV surveillance, deployment of security personnel, and strict access control protocols.
He said comprehensive security protocols, including round-the-clock surveillance and access control measures have been implemented to safeguard the EVMs.
In addition, the DEO reviewed the arrangements for the counting process, highlighting that multiple counting tables have been set up to facilitate efficient and accurate counting besides ensuring that adequate staff and resources are in place to manage the counting operations seamlessly.
