As many as 11,664 candidates are contesting for sarpanch posts in 3,529 panchayats while 73,976 candidates are in the fray for 27,582 wards.
The second and third phases of the polls will be held on January 25 and 30.
Approximately 80 per cent voters turned up at polling booths to exercise their franchise, the officials said.
The State Election Commission (SEC) officials said that more than 1.27 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the panchayat (village council) elections.
The voting will be held from 8 am to 4 pm on Sunday and counting of votes will take place after the conclusion of polling. As many as 13,276 sarpanchs and 83,831 panchs will be elected for 13,276 villages.
Clashes between two groups in Punjab's Firozpur over Panchayat election
The BJP has bagged 481 GPM posts, followed by 294 by the Congress, 115 by AGP, 15 by AIUDF, five by CPI(M), two by CPI and Independents emerged victorious at 175 seats so far.
According to the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, Shaleen Kabra, 361 polling stations have been categorised as 'hypersensitive' in this phase. Of these, 171 are in the Kashmir division and 190 in the Jammu division.
A total of 86,340 personnel will be deputed on election duty with 40 to 50 observers to ensure smooth and peaceful conduct of the polls at the 17,268 polling booths, he said.
Nearly 50 per cent votes were polled till the closing time of 3 pm but the exact figure would be known late in the evening as there were still long queues of voters at several polling stations, State Election Commission (SEC) sources said.
The nine-phased panchayat elections commenced on November 17 and are scheduled to end on December 11.
The state had witnessed a polling percentage of 71.1 per cent during the fifth phase on November 29. In the fourth phase on November 27, 71.3 per cent polling was recorded.
Braving the cold weather, voters were seen queuing outside polling stations in both Jammu division and the Kashmir valley.
The polling for the fifth phase will be held at 2,512 polling stations, including 1,743 stations in Jammu division and 769 in Kashmir division, from 8 am to 2 pm, said State Chief Electoral Officer Shaleen Kabra.
Jammu and Kashmir panchayat polls: 71.3% voter turnout recorded in 4th phase
Voter turnout in the first phase on November 17 was 74.1 per cent. In the second phase on November 20, 71.1 per cent and in the third phase on November 24, it was 75.2.
Prithvi Raj, a PhD in botany, is a sarpanch candidate from the Loharna-A panchayat in Kishtwar. Mansoor Hussain, a masters-degree holder in political science and English, is a sarpanch candidate from the Loharna-B panchayat.
Polling was held in Ramban, Kishtwar, Doda, Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri and Poonch districts of the Jammu division.
According to the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shaleen Kabra, 727 polling stations have been categorized as hypersensitive -- 493 in Kashmir and 234 in Jammu.
Major regional parties - the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party - have decided not to participate in the local bodies polls.
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