In Jammu and Kashmir, the stage has been set for the first phase of the 2024 General Elections to the Legislative Assembly, scheduled for September 18. The fate of 219 candidates will be determined by over 23.27 lakh voters, including 5.66 lakh young voters.

The first phase of Assembly Elections will cover 24 Assembly Constituencies across seven districts of J&K. These include Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, and Kulgam in the Kashmir Division and Doda, Ramban, and Kishtwar in the Jammu Division.

In Kashmir Division, 16 Assembly Constituencies are up for election including Pampore, Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, DH Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, and Pahalgam.

In the Jammu Division, 8 Assembly Constituencies including Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder-Nagseni, Bhadarwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban, and Banihal will also go to the polls.

23 lakh 27 thousand and 580  lakh voters are eligible to cast their ballots in this phase, comprising 11 lakh 76 thousand and 462 male voters, 11 lakh 51 thousand and 058  lakh female voters, and 60 third-gender voters.

Underlining the significance of the role to be played by the youth of J&K in strengthening democracy, as many as 5.66 lakh youths are eligible to vote in phase 1 of the Assembly Election. Youth voters are a significant demographic, with 5.66 lakh eligible voters between the ages of 18 and 29, including 1 lakh 23 thousand and 960 first-time voters aged 18 to 19.  Among these, 10,261 are male and 9,329 are female. This phase will also see participation from 28,309 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and 15,774 voters above the age of 85. 64 candidates are contesting in Anantnag district, followed by 45 in Pulwama district, 27 in Doda district, 25 in Kulgam district, 22 in Kishtwar district, 21 in Shopian district, while 15 are contesting in Ramban district.

To facilitate the voters for smooth and hassle-free electoral participation, ECI has established 3276 polling stations across 24 Assembly Constituencies. Special polling stations, including women-only Pink stations, PwD-manned stations, youth-manned stations, and Green Polling Stations, have been introduced to enhance voter participation.