Democracy Triumphs as Srinagar Turnout Peaks at 36.58% After Decades

Srinagar, May 13: In a remarkable show of democratic spirit, the Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency recorded a voter turnout of 36.58% at 8 PM, the highest in many decades, as the fourth phase of polling for the 18th Lok Sabha elections concluded peacefully across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir today.
The constituencies of Chadoora, Charar-i-sharief, Ganderbal, Kangan, Khansahib, and Shopian witnessed an impressive over 45% voter turnout, while Budgam, Ganderbal, Pulwama, and parts of Shopian also reported completely peaceful and high participation.

Voting took place across 2,135 polling stations, with live webcasting at all locations to ensure transparency. Long queues of enthusiastic voters thronged booths from the 7 AM start, undeterred by summer heat, in a resounding show of faith in the electoral process.
This election held special significance as the first parliamentary polls in the valley after the abrogation of Article 370 and the enactment of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act in 2019. The increased participation, with 24 candidates in the fray compared to 12 in 2019, underscored the region’s embrace of democratic values.
Over 8,000 polling personnel, including security forces, worked tirelessly to create an atmosphere of calm and festivities at polling stations. Command centers in Srinagar and Jammu monitored proceedings round-the-clock to ensure free, fair, and inducement-free voting.
The Election Commission facilitated inclusive voting through women-managed booths, specially-abled staff, youth involvement, eco-friendly stations, and designated migrant camps in Delhi, Jammu, and Udhampur.
Targeted voter awareness drives under SVEEP are credited with driving the noteworthy surge in turnout across the Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency.
As results trickled in late into the night, the high participation was widely hailed as a triumph of democracy and a strong repudiation of divisive forces seeking to disrupt the polls in Kashmir.

Table 

Year    % of voting

2019: 14.43%
2014: 25.86%
2009: 25.55%
2004: 18.57%
1999: 11.93%
1998: 30.06%
1996: 40.94%