Only a fraction of Pakistan-administered Kashmir's legislative constituencies are voting in the final phase of regional elections, as security concerns and a deadly protest movement force a scaled-back poll. Monday's vote covers four of the 11 seats originally scheduled, with the rest postponed indefinitely after weeks of unrest that has claimed dozens of lives. Main Developments Polling booths in Bagh and Haveli districts of Poonch division opened at 8am local time and are set to close at 5pm, with roughly 460,000 registered voters eligible to cast ballots. The vote marks the culmination of a three-phase process for the 53-member Legislative Assembly. Incumbent AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore of the Pakistan People's Party is defending his Haveli seat, while Bagh features a contest between two former prime ministers: Sardar Tanveer Ilyas of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party and Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan of the Muslim Conference. Read also: Iran Sets Hormuz Reopening Terms: End US Blockade, Pay Damages Elections in the remaining seven constituencies—five in Poonch and two in Sudhnoti district—were postponed last week, with officials saying a new date will be announced in the coming days. The delay follows weeks of demonstrations by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a local pressure group demanding the abolition of 12 reserved seats for displaced Kashmiris living elsewhere in Pakistan. Background The unrest has turned deadly, with residents and rights groups reporting more than 50 killed during JAAC-led protests. The government has not released an official death toll but confirmed at least seven police and paramilitary personnel have died. Authorities banned the JAAC in June under antiterrorism laws after it called for a boycott of the legislative elections. International media have also been barred from the region, with reporters told to leave and seek clearance before returning to Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The first two phases of voting saw the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) dominate, winning nine of 13 seats in Mirpur division and 15 in Muzaffarabad and refugee constituencies. The PPP captured four and six seats, respectively. Turnout dropped to 46 percent in the first phase and 53 percent in the second, down from more than 60 percent in both 2021 and 2016. Why It Matters The reduced vote undermines the legitimacy of the electoral process in a region already tense with political and territorial disputes. The JAAC's stronghold in Poonch division has seen an intermittent internet shutdown lasting over 50 days, further complicating communication and transparency. Low turnout, violence, and the postponement of seven constituencies signal deepening public frustration with the electoral system and the reserved-seat arrangement. The outcome may reshape the balance of power in AJK, with the PMLN seeking to consolidate its hold and the PPP defending its prime minister's seat. What's Next Authorities are expected to announce a new polling date for the seven postponed constituencies in the coming days, though no timeline has been given. The JAAC's boycott call and the security situation will likely influence whether those elections can proceed peacefully. Observers will watch for any further escalation of protests or government crackdowns, as well as the final vote tallies from Monday's polling. The results will determine the composition of the 53-member assembly and the region's next government.