Jammu, 30 September (HIST). On the eve of the third phase of voting in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar called on voters to participate in maximum numbers and urged them to strengthen democracy with their votes.
Kumar congratulated the people of Jammu and Kashmir for voting in record numbers during the first two phases. Voting was 61.38 percent in the first phase and 57.3 percent in the second phase, while 58.58 percent was recorded during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
He said that I congratulate the people of Jammu and Kashmir for participating in the celebration of democracy. We have seen an increase in voting percentage, number of candidates, processions and campaigning. There have been no cases of boycott or re-polling in the last two phases of voting. This voting is historic. We urge every section of the society to cast their vote in the third phase of elections. In 17 assembly constituencies, the voting percentage of women is higher than that of men.
Over 7,200 permissions were granted for rallies and meetings through the Suvidha portal reflecting the intense campaign activity ahead of the elections. The first phase of voting took place on 18 September, followed by the second phase on 25 September. The third phase is to be held on Tuesday in 40 constituencies. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the counting of votes is scheduled to take place on October 8 with results expected soon after.
More than 39 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes in the third phase which will cover 40 constituencies across seven districts. Voting will take place from 7 am to 6 pm amid tight security to ensure a peaceful process. The fate of a total of 415 candidates is to be decided in this phase.