Voting begins in final phase of local government elections in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Voting in the final phase of local government elections in Indian-controlled Kashmir began on Tuesday. This is the first election since the region lost its special status in 2019. Over 3.9 million residents can vote for 40 lawmakers from 415 candidates. This election marks a significant change, as it is the first in a decade and follows the division of the former state into two union territories. The region remains under direct control from New Delhi, with limited local governance. For the first time, Pakistani Hindu refugees are voting in a regional election. The overall turnout in the previous phase was about 55%, with no reported incidents. Votes will be counted on October 8.