Record-Breaking Voter Turnout Marks Kashmir Assembly Polls

The three border districts of Kashmir—Baramulla, Bandipora, and Kupwara—saw a 60 percent voter turnout, with historically boycotted areas like Sopore and Baramulla towns recording the highest participation rates in three decades. Despite overall turnout being slightly lower than the 2014 elections, several individual districts saw significant increases. The final phase of voting passed peacefully.

The three border districts of Kashmir—Baramulla, Bandipora, and Kupwara—witnessed a remarkable 60 percent voter turnout during the recent Assembly polls, marking a significant political shift in the region. Long-standing boycott bastions Sopore and Baramulla towns recorded their highest participation in three decades.

However, the turnout in the 16 Assembly segments of these districts on Tuesday was nearly 5 percent less than the 2014 Assembly polls. Polls were conducted in 40 segments across seven districts, including Jammu, the winter capital. According to the election commission, the votes will be counted on October 8.

Notable highlights include Sopore's 41.44 percent turnout, an 11 percent increase from 2014, and Baramulla’s 48 percent, up by 8 percent. The Pattan Assembly segment saw 61 percent voter turnout. Some areas like Langate, Kupwara, and Handwara experienced a dip. Uri and Karnah witnessed a turnout drop of over 10 percent, and Sonawari saw a 15 percent decline.