J & K records historic polling percentage: EC

The 76 per cent turnout in the fifth and final phase of polling is the highest polling percentage in the last 25 years, Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi said.

A security personnel keeps vigil at a polling station during the fifth and last phase of Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

Calling the turnout in Jammu and Kashmir “historic and unprecedented,” Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi thanked the people of the State for coming out in large numbers to vote and for ensuring a peaceful election.

In comparison, turnout in the 2008 and 2002 Assembly elections stood at 61.42 per cent and 43.09 per cent respectively.

In the 2004, 2009 and 2014 parliamentary polls, turnout in the State was 35.20 per cent, 39.67 per cent and 50.23 per cent respectively.

In the fifth and final phase, Jammu, Rajouri and Kathua all registered over 70 per cent turnout, the EC said.

81 constituencies in Jharkhand and 87 constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir went to polls in the five-phase elections starting November 25.