Democracy Strengthened

The third and final phase of polling for the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections saw a high voter turnout of over 68% in 40 constituencies across seven districts. The districts involved were Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora in Kashmir Division, along with Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua and Samba in Jammu Division. The election process began early at 7:00 AM, with eager voters queuing up to cast their ballots. In the valley, a lot of enthusiasm was seen among the voters as poll boycott calls have become things of the past. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged citizens to participate in what he called the “festival of democracy.” His emphasis on youth and women voters highlighted the growing importance of these groups in shaping the future of Jammu and Kashmir. In fact, 1.94 lakh young voters, aged 18 to 19, were eligible to cast their votes in this phase.  The opposition leaders too had urged the J&K voters to vote in large numbers. “I urge the people in these 40 Assembly seats to exercise their democratic rights in large numbers….remember, that a single vote can change your destiny and usher in a brighter future, which secures your Constitutional rights. A single vote is valuable enough to ensure better employment opportunities for the young, take on the corrupt, safeguard your land rights and ensure progress and prosperity,” Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated. The Election Commission of India took major steps to ensure smooth voting. With 5,060 polling stations, including both urban and rural stations, and 100% webcasting, the focus was on transparency and efficient voting. The inclusion of 24 special polling stations for migrant voters, including in Delhi and Udhampur, highlighted efforts to ensure that every eligible voter, irrespective of location, has the opportunity to participate. The large turnout, especially among young voters, reflects a desire for change and progress. The second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections on September 25 had recorded a voter turnout of 57.31 per cent. The phase one of elections on September 18 had recorded a voter turnout of 61.38 per cent. Counting of votes is scheduled on October 8. This assembly election held historic significance as it was the first since the abrogation of Article 370 on 5th August 2019, which bifurcated the erstwhile J&K state into two union territories. While high voter participation is encouraging, the path to a truly inclusive and peaceful future for Jammu and Kashmir will depend on how well the elected government can address the complex issues of governance, development and security in the region. To further enhance democratic participation, more efforts should be directed at improving voter education and outreach in both urban and rural areas. The role of technology, such as webcasting, has been a positive step in ensuring transparency, but future elections could benefit from even greater use of digital tools for voter engagement and feedback. The elected representatives must now work diligently to meet the aspirations of the voters.