STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: State Election Commissioner, K.K Sharma, on Friday informed that 59.90 per cent and 52.43 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the fifth Phase of vacant Panch and Sarpanch by-polls 2020.
While giving out the details, SEC informed that by-polls for Panch vacant seats were held in 229 constituencies in the 5th phase. Out of a total of 42,504 electors (including 22,140 males and 20364 females), 25,460 voted in the 5th phase of Panch by-elections which began at 7am and ended at 2pm.
SEC said that Jammu division recorded 77.52 per cent and Kashmir division recorded 58.35 per cent voter turnout during the 5th phase of Panch by-elections.

SEC reviews preparations for counting

JAMMU: The State Election Commissioner (SEC), KK Sharma on Friday chaired a meeting of officers to review the preparations for counting of District Development Council (DDC) elections to be held on December 22, 2020.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Sanjeev Verma and Deputy Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir, Secretary State Election Commission, Anil Salgotra and other officers participated in the meeting held via video conferencing.
The meeting discussed the arrangements and manpower for the counting of the polls which would be held on December 22 from 9 am. The SEC received one-by-one feedback from all the deputy commissioners and the arrangements so far taken for the counting day. The SEC directed the concerned DCs to make available all the counting halls and the staff as the counting would be done manually by counting ballot papers on the counting assigned counting tables.

Similarly, 52.43 per cent voting was registered on vacant Sarpanch constituencies during the 5th phase in 125 constituencies in which out of a total of 88,078 electors (including 45,766 males and 42,312 females), 46,179 voted to choose their representatives, he added. He further said that 75.84 per cent polling was registered in Jammu division whereas 42.85 per cent polling was recorded in Kashmir division.
SEC said that in Jammu division, Doda district recorded the highest voter turnout of 90.83 per cent for Panch by-elections followed by Reasi with 88.51 per cent and Poonch with 84.09 per cent. Similarly, Budgam district topped with 69 per cent voter turnout in Kashmir division followed by Kupwara with 66.82 per cent and Bandipora with 64.91 per cent.
While giving information about the highest voter turnout in both the divisions, the SEC said that in Sarpanch by-polls, Kupwara recorded the highest voter turnout with 84.24 per cent in Kashmir division followed by Bandipora with 71.60 per cent and Budgam with 55.78 per cent. Besides, Jammu topped the polling percentage with 81.13 per cent in Jammu division followed by Poonch with 80.37 per cent and Reasi with 79.78 per cent, he informed. SEC also informed that polling was held at 271 polling stations for Sarpanch by-polls and at 229 polling stations for Panch elections.
While giving an overview of the polling process, SEC said that the polling was peaceful and smooth across the region at all polling stations.