New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir is voting today in its first assembly elections in a decade and for the first time since the Union Territory was stripped of statehood five years ago.

The voter turnout in the 24 assembly constituencies was recorded at 58.19% as of 5 pm.

Jammu's Inderwal constituency saw the highest voter turnout at 80.06%, followed by Padder and Kishtwar. In Kashmir Valley, Pahalgam led with 67.86%, followed by Kulgam (59.58%) and Kokernag (58%).

Polling is staggered geographically in three phases. The first phase is today and will see voting across 24 assembly seats in seven districts. The seats going to polls are as follows:

1. Pampore
2. Tral
3. Pulwama
4. Rajpora
5. Zainapora
6. Shopian
7. D.H. Pora
8. Kulgam
9. Devsar
10. Dooru
11. Kokernag (ST)
12. Anantnag West
13. Anantnag
14. Srigufwara - Bijbehara
15. Shangus - Anantnag East
16. Pahalgam
17. Inderwal
18. Kishtwar
19. Padder - Nagseni
20. Bhadarwah
21. Doda
22. Doda West
23. Ramban
24. Banihal

As many as 23.27 lakh electors are eligible to vote today, 11.76 lakh of whom are men and 11.51 lakh, women.

Around 15,774 electors are over 85 years old. Nearly 28,309 electors are persons with disabilities. First-time electors are almost 1.23 lakh in number.

Two hundred and ten men and nine women make up the candidates' list today.

The second and third phases of the polls are slated for September 25 and October 5. Ballots will be counted on October 8, with results expected the same day.

The office of the Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Manoj Sinha, has urged voters to come out in large numbers, as have Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other leaders.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.