SRINAGAR: A voter turnout of more than 50 per cent was recorded till 3 pm in the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls on Wednesday, the Election Commission said.

Voting began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements.

According to officials, the overall voter turnout was 50.65 per cent at 3 pm.

They said the highest voting percentage so far among the 24 assembly segments of the Union territory was recorded in Inderwal at 72.20 per cent, followed by Padder-Nagseni at 71.08 per cent and Kishtwar at 67.58 per cent.

Doda West also recorded a high turnout of 66.75 per cent during the period.

In the Kashmir valley, the Pahalgam segment recorded the highest turnout of 58.89 per cent. It was followed by D H Pora at 55.14 per cent, Kulgam at 50.75, Dooru at 50.50 per cent, and Kokernag (ST) at 50 per cent.

The lowest -- 32.87 per cent -- was recorded in Tral, they said.

The polls are being held for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370.