Elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are conducted in accordance with the Constitution of India to elect the representatives of various bodies at national, state and district levels including the 114 seat (90 seats + 24 seats reserved for Pakistan-administered Kashmir) unicameral Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and the Parliament of India. The first elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir took place between 28 November and 19 December 2020 in the form of by-elections to District Development Councils and municipal and panchayat level bodies. A fresh delimitation process for assembly constituencies began in February–March 2020.

Post 2019, Jammu and Kashmir had 90 assembly constituencies and 5 lok sabha constituencies. Also, the state legislature became unicameral as the state legislative council was dissolved.

Legislative assembly elections in the state have been held 11 times since 1951 whereas Parliamentary elections have been held 12 times since 1967. Municipal elections in the state have been held four times since 1947, with the October 2018 elections being the fifth time they were held. Before becoming a state, Praja Sabha were held, with the first Praja Sabha election in 1934.

Prior to 2019, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), Jammu & Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress (INC) had been the dominant political parties in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. But from 1996 onwards the vote share of Bharatiya Janata Party has increased in the parliamentary elections for the state, from 12.45% in 2008 to 23% in 2014 and to 25% in 2024.

The dominant parties post the 2024 election are the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and the Bharatiya Janata Party. The popularity of JKPDP and Congress has reduced over the years and their seats in the assembly are now in single digits.

Background

Princely state of Jammu and Kashmir electoral system

In 1932, a Franchise Committee was set up to frame those who would vote as adult suffrage was considered impractical and unfeasible. The committee fixed the minimum voting age at 21 years. For women voters it was decided that those women who had passed middle school or higher could vote, while for males the criteria were broader and included village officials, religious representatives, retired or pensioned officers, lawyers, doctors, schoolmasters etc. were given franchise. Only a state subject would qualify to vote and British Indians were not allowed. In general, the measure of qualification to vote was the possession of property. Those grazing livestock were also enfranchised. For those standing the election the minimum age was 25 years of age and would include only those who were literate in Urdu.

The services of Ivo Elliot, a retired Indian Civil Services officer, were utilized from 1933 onwards. Under him the princely state was delimited, the election method was set up, and the population was made aware of the electoral process. He divided the territory into 33 constituencies. 138 polling stations for rural constituencies were set up, 32 in Srinagar and 6 in Jammu. 76 nominations were received. Coloured box or symbol system as suggested by the Lothian Committee in British India was utilized.

The Praja Sabha (the Legislative Assembly at the time) was to have 75 members, of which 33 would be elected members (for the 33 constituencies), 12 would be officials, and 30 nominated members. (14 members were nominated as it was not possible to conduct elections in some places such as Ladakh and Gilgit due to the territorial expanse; and the remaining 16 would be nominated as State Councilors). In effect, the elected members chosen through the popular vote would be in the minority in the Legislative Assembly.

State of Jammu and Kashmir electoral system

The Constitution of India gives power to the Election Commission of India to oversee the establishment of the electoral roles as well as organize the elections to both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council in Jammu and Kashmir.

Delimitation has taken place in the state in 1963, 1973 and 1995. The last delimitation in 1995 was based on the 1981 census. Following the 1995 delimitation the number of seats was increased from 76 to 87 (and an additional 24 seats reserved for areas under Pakistan).

Elections to elect all the 111 members of the Legislative Assembly is based universal adult suffrage from people among the state constituencies. The Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) of Jammu and Kashmir has 36 members. Out of these 22 members are elected according to a "system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote", 6 members are elected from among members municipal council, town area committees, notified area committees, Panchayats and other bodies.National Informatics Centre, Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir 1956 . Government of India.

Panchayat elections which are held for sarpanch and panch constituencies as part of the Panchayati Raj system in the state are held according to the provisions in the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act 1989. The authority to form the 'Panchayat Electoral Rolls' and to the conduct Panchayat elections are given to the Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu and Kashmir.Chief Electoral Officer (2018). Jammu and Kashmir. Local Bodies Elections 2018 Press Note, Panchayat Elections. National Informatics Centre, Jammu and Kashmir. Municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir are conducted on the basis of the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act 2000.

Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir electoral system

A new delimitation process for the assembly constituencies of the Union Territory began in February–March 2020. It increased the strength of the elected members in the legislative assembly from 87 to 90. The COVID-19 pandemic in India as well as political participation issues delayed the progress. On 24 June 2021, Prime Minister Modi met with political leaders from the region signaling a renewed effort with the delimitation process. The Delimitation Commission is chaired by retired Supreme Court of India Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai. The delimitation is based on the 2011 census of India and is being undertaken as per the amended Delimitation Act, 2002 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. There are 280 District Development Council (DDC) seats in the union territory equally divided between the Jammu and Kashmir regions. In each of the 20 districts of the union territory there are 14 constituencies.

Major political parties

This list includes state parties as well as national parties.

National parties AAP: Aam Aadmi Party BJP: Bharatiya Janata Party BSP: Bahujan Samaj Party CPM: Communist Party of India (Marxist) INC: Indian National Congress

State parties of Jammu and Kashmir JKNC: Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, founded 1932 PDP: Jammu & Kashmir People's Democratic Party, split from INC in 1999 JKAP: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, formed in 2020 and led by Altaf Bukhari JKNPP: Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, formed in 1982 JKPC: Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference, founded in 1978 JKPM: Jammu & Kashmir People's Movement, formed 2019 JKWP: Jammu and Kashmir Workers Party, formed in 2020 and led by Mir Junaid

Lok Sabha elections

The state of Jammu and Kashmir has taken part in 12 general elections to the Lok Sabha of India. The first time that Jammu & Kashmir sent elected members to the Lok Sabha was in 1967. Elections were not held in 1990 in Jammu and Kashmir due to insurgency in the region.

The table below shows how the Indian National Congress (INC) and Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) have won the most Lok Seats in the state since 1967. Though, since 2019 the JKNC and the BJP have been the two major political parties. JKNC and INC has won the seats 27 times each. The other parties won seats in general elections to the Lok Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir are Jammu & Kashmir People's Democratic Party 4 times, Bharatiya Janata Party 13 times, Janata Dal only 1 time and independent candidates 6 times. After delimitation in 2021, the Anantnag constituency was replaced by the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency and Ladakh Lok Sabha constituency became a separate union territory.

Key for parties

Election YearWinnersVoter turnout (%)TotalBaramullaSrinagarAnantnag / Anantnag-RajouriLadakhUdhampurJammuElections in the State of Jammu and Kashmir1967INC: 5, JKNC: 1,INCJKNCINCINCINCINC1971INC: 5, Independent: 1INCINDINCINCINCINC1977JKNC: 3, INC: 1, IND: 1JKNCJKNCINCINCINCIND1980JKNC: 3, Congress(I): 1, Congress(U): 1JKNCJKNCJKNCINDINC(U)INC(I)1984JKNC: 3, INC: 3JKNCJKNCJKNCINCINCINC1989JKNC: 3, INC: 2, IND: 1JKNCJKNCJKNCINDINCINC1991Elections Not Held1996INC: 4, BJP: 1, JD: 1INCINCJDINCBJPINC1998JKNC: 3, BJP: 2, INC: 1JKNCJKNCINCJKNCBJPBJP1999JKNC: 4, BJP: 2JKNCJKNCJKNCJKNCBJPBJP2004JKNC: 2, INC: 2, JKPDP: 1, IND: 1JKNCJKNCJKPDPINDINCINC2009JKNC: 3, INC: 2, IND: 1JKNCJKNCJKNCINDINCINC201449.72%BJP: 3, PDP: 3JKPDPJKPDPJKPDPBJPBJPBJP201944.97%BJP: 3, JKNC: 3JKNCJKNCJKNCBJPBJPBJPElections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir202458.46%BJP: 2, JKNC: 2, IND: 1INDJKNCJKNC-BJPBJP

Legislative assembly elections

After the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir was amended, the name Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir changed into Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. +Legislative assembly elections in JK (1972–2024): Seat sharePartySeats won202420142008200219961987198319771972JKNC4215282857404647 -BJP2925111820 - -INC 6121720726261158JKPDP3282116 - - - - -CPI(M)1 1121000 -JKNPP 003410 - - -IND7341328249JD - - - -5 - - - -JP - - - - - - -13 -Other parties23236 -118Total seats908787878776767675Ref +Legislative assembly elections in JK (1934—present)YearElection-Seats WonRemarksElections in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir1934Praja Sabha election -MC: 16; Liberal Group: 13The Praja Sabha was to have 75 members, of which 33 would be elected members (for the 33 constituencies), 12 would be officials, and 30 nominated members. Elected members would be in minority in assembly. Sheikh Abdullah's Muslim Conference won all five seats in Srinagar.1937Praja Sabha by-election -1938Praja Sabha election -1947Praja Sabha election -YearElectionChief Minister (Winning Party/Coalition)Polling %Seats WonRemarksElections in the Jammu and Kashmir 1951Constituent AssemblySheikh Abdullah (JKNC) 1951-1953 (dismissed) Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad (JKNC) 1953-1957Total: 75; JKNC: 75 Election malpractice, 13 candidates rejected and Praja Parishad boycotts;