J&K: Over 12 lakh voters are set to exercise their democratic rights in Jammu district on October 1 as polling is being held in eleven assembly constituencies (ACs) during the third and final phase of the assembly elections. The total number of voters is 1,200,977, including 619,066 men, 581,887 women and 24 voters of the third gender. To conduct the polling smoothly, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has set up 1,494 polling stations across the district, including 609 in urban areas and 885 in rural areas. Special provisions have been made to promote maximum voter participation,
including dedicated polling stations for persons with disabilities (PWDs), pink polling stations managed by women, centres run by youth and green polling stations. Out of the eleven constituencies, 74-RS Pura-Jammu South Assembly constituency has the highest number of registered voters, totalling 130,107, which includes 67,322 men, 62,782 women and 3 transgender voters. The constituency has 149 polling stations – 98 urban and 51 rural – to facilitate the voting process.
It is followed closely by 75-Bahu Assembly constituency, which has 121,131 registered voters (61,963 men, 59,159 women and 9 third-gender voters) and 139 polling stations – 131 urban and 8 rural. Next comes 72-Bishnah (SC) Assembly constituency, which has 119,988 voters (63,385 men, 56,602 women and 1 third-gender voter) who are facilitated by 139 polling stations, including 18 urban and 121 rural.
Similarly, 73-Suchetgarh (SC) AC has 113,449 voters, including 59,727 men, 53,720 women and 2 transgender voters, and 128 rural polling stations have been set up for efficient voting. 79-Jammu North AC has 111,811 voters (57,213 men, 54,595 women and 3 third-gender voters) and has 117 polling stations – 87 urban and 30 rural.
76-Jammu East AC has 107,213 voters (54,021 men, 53,189 women and 3 third-gender voters) and 153 polling stations – 131 urban and 22 rural. 78-Jammu West Assembly Constituency has 106,252 voters, including 53,811 men and 52,441 women, and 118 polling stations are available.
82-Chhamb Assembly Constituency has 106,035 voters (54,295 men and 51,740 women) and 165 polling stations have been set up – 8 urban and 157 rural. 77-Nagrota Assembly Constituency has 96,007 registered voters (49,735 men and 46,272 women) and 145 rural polling stations are available. 81-Akhnoor (SC) Assembly Constituency has 95,386 voters (48,954 men, 46,430 women and 2 third-gender voters), and has 127 polling stations – 12 urban and 115 rural.
Finally, 80-Marh (SC) Assembly Constituency has the least number of voters at 93,598 (48,640 men, 44,957 women and 1 third-gender voter), comprising 114 polling stations – 12 urban and 102 rural.
Notably, this election is a crucial moment for 47,963 first-time voters, with 82-Chhamb Assembly Constituency leading with 5,647 new voters and 78-Jammu West Assembly Constituency having the least number of voters at 2,801. Nearly 18% of the voters are senior citizens, with 215,338 voters aged 60 years and above, and they are expected to play a key role in shaping the election outcome. Notably, Jammu has 404 centenarians and 6 super-centenarians, who have witnessed over 120 years of India’s history.
The officials are actively carrying out voter awareness programmes across the district to encourage participation and emphasise the importance of exercising the franchise. All arrangements have been completed for a smooth and peaceful polling process on October 1.
