In a historic event, Indian-administered Kashmir saw a record voter turnout of approximately 59% in its first regional elections since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which ended the region's special semi-autonomous status. This high voter engagement, especially among the youth and first-time voters, reflects a renewed faith in the democratic process. Security was tight with thousands of police and paramilitary forces deployed, resulting in an incident-free and peaceful voting process. Many voters expressed hopes for better governance, job opportunities, and development, with some areas breaking long-standing election boycotts. The elections are seen as a crucial step in determining the region's future political landscape and addressing local issues after years of unrest. Results are expected on October 8.