NEW DELHI:  On Friday, the Election Commission of India (EC) announced that Jammu and Kashmir will hold its first Assembly election in a decade, and the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1. Haryana will also vote on October 1 in a single phase, with vote counting for both states scheduled for October 4.

At a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, joined by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and S.S. Sandhu, stated, "The people of Jammu and Kashmir chose to use ballots instead of bullets and to avoid a boycott in the recent Lok Sabha elections. The region saw a significant increase in voter participation, rising by 30 points compared to 2019."

Regarding security arrangements for the Jammu and Kashmir elections, Kumar emphasized the need for extensive deployment of both Central and State police forces to ensure safe, free, and fair elections, particularly in vulnerable areas. He noted that the planning process involved complex logistics, including the mobilization, deployment, and optimal use of forces, which required detailed consultations with senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Central Armed Police Forces, and local authorities.

The last Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir took place in November and December 2014, conducted in five phases. Following the BJP's withdrawal of support from the PDP-led coalition government in June 2018, the region was placed under Governor’s rule. The Union government’s revocation of Article 370 in August 2019 led to the division of the State into two Union Territories. The Supreme Court upheld the abrogation in 2023 and mandated that an Assembly election be conducted by September 30.