Jammu, Dec 17 : A 68.43 percent and 58.64 percent voter turnout was recorded in the seventh phase of the Panch and Sarpanch by-polls in J&K respectively. This was stated by the State Election Commissioner (SEC) K.K. Sharma on Thursday. Giving details the SEC informed that by-polls for Panch were held in 438 vacant seats in the seventh phase on Wednesday. Out of a total 76,866 electors (including 39,727 males and 37,139 females), 52,599 voted and 1000 candidates were in the fray. The SEC said that Jammu division recorded 72.95 per cent and Kashmir division recorded 68.22 per cent voter turnout respectively during the 7th phase of the Panch by-elections. Similarly, he said 58.64 per cent voting was registered in the 69 Sarpanch constituencies in which out of a total 1,12,856 electors (including 59,114 males and 53,742 females), 66,175 voted to choose their representatives. He added that 74.92 per cent polling was registered in Jammu division whereas 52.72 per cent polling was recorded in Kashmir division in the Sarpanch by-polls. The SEC said that in Jammu division in the Sarpanch by-polls, Udhampur district recorded the highest voter turnout of 81.38 per cent followed by Reasi with 80.16 percent and Rajouri with 77.68 per cent. Similarly in Kashmir division, Bandipora district topped with 68.82 per cent followed by Budgam with 54.54 per cent and Baramulla with 53.02 per cent. The SEC said that in the Panch by-polls, Bandipora in Kashmir division recorded the highest voter turnout at 75.66 per cent followed by Ganderbal with 75.06 per cent and Kupwara with 71.22 per cent. Similarly, in Jammu division Rajouri topped the polling percentage with 84.85 per cent followed by Reasi with 83.98 percent and Doda with 78.38 percent, he added. While giving an overview of the polling process, the SEC said that the polling was peaceful and smooth across the region at all polling stations. /IANS