In its submissions to the Law Commission and Kovind panel, the Election Commission flagged the need for the large numbers of additional EVMs and VVPATs that will be required, along with the requirements of time and money.

Approx 23 lakh voters are going to vote for 19 candidates in phase 1, including 90 independents, contesting for 24 assembly constituencies.

The candidate with the lowest declared assets is Independent Mohd Akram, contesting from the ST-reserved Surankote constituency, with assets worth just Rs 500.

The Inderwal Assembly constituency recorded a turnout of 82.16 percent, the highest in the first phase followed by Padder-Nagseni at 80.67 percent.

In Indian-controlled Kashmir, residents are voting in elections that some hope will lead to restoration of the territory's statehood, which ended when it became a federally governed territory in 2019.

Jammu and Kashmir is India's only Muslim-majority territory and has been at the centre of a dispute with neighbouring Pakistan since 1947. India and Pakistan both claim Kashmir in

India’s troubled region of Jammu and Kashmir saw a brisk turnout amid tight security as voters cast their ballots on Wednesday in the first regional legislative elections in a decade. The region, which has seen years of separatist violence and is at the centre of a dispute between India and Pakistan,

In the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir's assembly polls held on September 18, a voter turnout of over 61% was recorded, mirroring the 2014 elections. Kishtwar district led with an impressive 80% turnout.

The initial phase of Jammu and Kashmir's assembly elections concluded with a voter turnout of 58.85 per cent, with Kishtwar leading at 77 per cent and Pulwama trailing at just over 46 per cent. This election is significant as it is the first since Article 370 was revoked.