Elections in Jammu and Kashmir

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.

Prior to 2019, the State of Jammu and Kashmir included elections to the Parliament of India, both houses of the bicameral state legislature, and various other local level bodies such as municipalities and Panchayat constituencies. There were 87 assembly constituencies and 6 Lok sabha constituencies (parliamentary constituencies) including those of Ladakh.

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.