Arun Jasrotia
Srinagar :-TDD,The Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole, has announced that more than 39.18 lakh voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the third and final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election on October 1, 2024. This phase will cover 40 Assembly Constituencies across seven districts in the Union Territory.
The election will span 16 Assembly Constituencies in the Kashmir Division and 24 in the Jammu Division. To accommodate the large number of voters, 5,060 polling stations and 240 special polling stations have been established across the seven districts of Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, and Jammu.
A total of 415 candidates are in the fray for this crucial final phase. The electorate includes 20,09,033 male voters, 19,40,092 female voters, and 57 third-gender voters. Notable among the eligible voters are 1.94 lakh youth between 18-19 years, 35,860 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and 32,953 elderly voters above 85 years of age.
The Election Commission has made extensive arrangements to ensure a smooth and inclusive voting process. These include the establishment of pink polling stations managed by women, stations manned by specially-abled persons and youth, and green polling stations to promote environmental awareness. Additionally, special provisions have been made for voters near the Line of Control and International Border.
With comprehensive security measures in place and a strong focus on voter awareness through the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) program, authorities are expecting a higher voter turnout compared to previous Assembly elections. As the stage is set for this final phase, all eyes are on Jammu and Kashmir as it prepares to exercise its democratic right in this significant electoral event.TDD
