The elections are Indian-controlled Kashmir's first such election in a decade. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government scrapped the region's semi-autonomy in 2019 when he revoked Article 370 of India’s constitution.

Residents in Indian-controlled Kashmir have begun casting their votes in the second phase of a staggered election for a local government.

Voting in the final phase of the election to choose a local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir began Tuesday in the first such vote since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government stripped the disputed region of its special status five years ago.