'Here To Decide My Future': J&K's 'Giddy' First-Time Voters Say It's Not A Chance To Be Missed

The first phase of J&K's three-phase election is being conducted in 24 of its 90 constituencies. The last assembly polls in J&K were held 10 years ago.

First-time voters pose for a photo in Kulgam.

Source : X/@ddnewsSrinagar

Jammu Kashmir Assembly Election 2024: Several first-time voters arrived at booths across Jammu and Kashmir to cast their vote for the first phase of the assembly election on Wednesday. These voters expressed their excitement at getting a chance to shape J&K's future, with one saying she was "giddy". 

The first phase of J&K's three-phase election is being conducted in 24 of its 90 constituencies, across the districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, and Shopian. The last assembly polls in J&K were held 10 years ago. This is also the first assembly election since the scrapping of Article 370 and J&K's bifurcation and recategorisation as a Union territory.

A first-time voter from Nagrota said voting is about “the country's future, the state's future, and also your future”. The voter told IANS, “This is my first vote, and it feels good. I would like to say that everyone should come out and vote, and move forward to do so. It is about the country's future, the state's future, and your own future… So, everyone must ensure that they vote ”

Nagrota, J&K: "It was my first time voting, and it felt really good to cast my vote for the first time. I would like to say that everyone should come out and vote, and move forward to do so. It is about the country's future, the state's future, and your own future..." says a… pic.twitter.com/Cj1YWcHBFL

— IANS (@ians_india) September 18, 2024

A first-time voter from Anantnag said he was very happy to participate in the polls, and requested everyone to come out and vote, as seen in a video posted by the Anantnag District Information Office on its X handle.

#JKAssemblyElections2024

🔷 A young boy first time voter from Anantnag cast his #vote at kokernag.@SpokespersonECI @ECISVEEP @ceo_UTJK @diprjk pic.twitter.com/6jjq2VNL8a

— Information & PR Anantnag (@AnantnagDIPRC) September 18, 2024

A young woman from the Kashmiri migrant community who also voted for the first time said she was giddy about the whole process. Speaking to Doordarshan, she said she had been “eagerly waiting for this moment since the polling began at 7 am”. “Our youth is the one who decides the future of the country, so I came here to decide my future,” she added. She said she wanted the next government to work on education, health and unemployment, “which are often forgotten about”. 

#JKAssemblyElections2024

🔷 A first time female voter from Kashmiri migrant community cast her #vote in Jammu and said, “I have come here to decide my future”.@SpokespersonECI @ECISVEEP @ceo_UTJK @diprjk pic.twitter.com/McSECxhwDk

— DD NEWS JAMMU | डीडी न्यूज़ जम्मू (@ddnews_jammu) September 18, 2024

Voting for the second and third phases in Jammu and Kashmir will be held on September 25 and October 1, respectively. Vote-counting will be held on October 8.