Sunday marks the start of the second round of the AJK polls, with over 1.2 million voters expected to cast ballots.

More than 1.2 million registered voters are anticipated to cast votes in the second round of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, which will take place on Sunday, August 2, in 21 constituencies.

According to the Election Commission, all preparations had been completed and the distribution of election workers and materials to polling places was under progress.

With 809,621 registered voters, Muzaffarabad Division contains nine of the 21 seats. These comprise 151,911 voters in two Neelum district seats, 177,500 in two Jhelum Valley constituencies, and 480,219 in five Muzaffarabad district seats.

There are 143 candidates running for 12 refugee constituencies and 208 candidates running for the nine seats in the Muzaffarabad Division. In what is anticipated to be a hotly contested election, candidates from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), 25 recognized political parties, and independent candidates are running.

In Muzaffarabad Division, the Election Commission has set up 2,219 voting places and 1,483 polling stations. Eight officers will be assigned to very sensitive polling places, six to sensitive polling places, and four to routine polling places, depending on how sensitive the polling places are.

Muzaffarabad’s LA-28, LA-29, and LA-31 constituencies have been deemed extremely sensitive.

Important races are anticipated in Neelum’s LA-25 and LA-26, where PPP and PML-N candidates will compete with IPP nominees. Competitive elections are also expected in Muzaffarabad’s constituencies LA-27 through LA-33.

According to the Election Commission, preparations have already been finished for the third and final round of the AJK elections, which will take place on August 10 and include Poonch Division.