‘Women participated more in 17 seats in first two phases polls'
New Delhi, Sept 30: On the eve of the third phase of voting in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar urged voters to participate in greater numbers.
Kumar congratulated the people of J&K for turning out in record numbers. During the first phase, the voter turnout was 61.38%, and in the second phase, it was 57.3%. Comparatively, the voter turnout during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was 58.58%.
Kumar stated, “I congratulate the people of Jammu and Kashmir for participating in the celebration of democracy. We witnessed an increase in the voting percentage, the number of candidates, processions, and campaigning. In the last two phases of polling, there have been no cases of boycotts or repolling. This voter turnout is historic. We urge every section of 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.”
The Chief Election Commissioner also said that the turnout of women was more as compared to male electors in 17 of the 50 constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir where polls have been held.
Talking to reporters on the eve of the final phase of assembly elections in the Union territory in which the remaining 40 seats will go to polls, he also underlined that as per rules, the votes polled by each candidate will be displayed after every round of counting.
Responding to a question, Kumar said the rules are already in place in this regard and people should not fall for misinformation being spread about the counting procedure. He said the last two phases saw a higher voter participation coupled with more number of candidates in the fray as compared to the past.
CEC Kumar also noted that the UT was ahead in seeking clearances on the Suvidha application for rallies and processions. He described this as an overall increase in participation in democratic process.
More than 7,200 permissions were granted through the Suvidha portal for rallies and meetings.
