If even after voting, nothing changes – does our vote still carry weight ?

By Wasik Murtaza

It has been over a year since the people of Jammu and Kashmir voted for their elected government. People had hopes. They expected leadership that would listen, act, and represent them. But a year in, that hope feels thin. Is there a government? yes, but its power feels limited. Decisions that matter to commom Kashmiris often come from centre. Elected leaders seem to struggle to make even small changes. And so the question lingers: does our vote really matter?

I spoke to a few people in Srinagar recently. A teacher shrugged and said, “We voted, but nothing changes. They can’t do anything without permission from above.” A fruit seller added, “Even after voting, it feels like we have no say. We are just watching.” This sense of helplessness is growing quietly across towns and villages. People voted, but their expectations feel distant.

Voting here has always been complicated. In the past, many stayed away from polls as a political statement. They felt the system didn’t represent them. But now even those who voted are frustrated. People who once believed in ballots are asking the same question as boycotters once did. Their enthusiasm has faded. Voting feels more like a routine than a choice.

Looking back, turnout was once higher. In 2014, some areas had more than sixty percent turnout despite tensions. People queued, hoping their single vote could make a difference. Today, after a year of governance, that hope seems weaker. Many wonder if their decisions even reach the halls of power. The elected government exists, but it often cannot act freely.

It’s not just numbers that tell the story. Political representatives, even when in office, are limited in what they can do. Policies are announced without discussion. Projects arrive without consultation. Public opinion is rarely reflected. Citizens feel ignored. The system seems to work around them, not with them.

What is striking is how voters and boycotters are coming to the same conclusion. People who cast ballots now feel the same disillusionment that once fueled election boycotts. The difference between voting and not voting is shrinking. Both groups feel unheard. That, perhaps, is the biggest warning sign for democracy here.

A year into this government, Kashmiris are left reflecting. If elected leaders cannot act in the people’s interest, what is the purpose of voting? Democracy is not only about holding elections. It is about making sure those elections have consequences. When the connection between vote and governance is dist, disbelief grows. People stop believing their voices matter.

In Kashmir today, the silence is noticeable. It is not peaceful. People ask themselves a ques, sometimes aloud, sometimes in private: does our vote still carry weight? Or are we only following the ritual of democracy while its meaning slips away?

This question is urgent. It asks Kashmiris to look at their own role in governance. It asks them to consider what they expect from their elected leaders. Democracy is not run only on laws and elections, but on belief , belief that our choices, our voices, and our votes matter. Right now, in Kashmir, that belief is being tested. And until it is restored, every vote, no matter how carefully cast, will carry the weight of doubt.