Just a day before the local body elections, the Kottayam district administration has completed all arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections.
Elections will be held in 89 local bodies in the district, including the district panchayat, 11 block panchayats, 71 grama panchayats and six municipalities, covering a total of 1,611 constituencies. A total of 1,925 polling stations were set up to serve 1,641,249 registered voters, including 856,321 women, 784,842 men, 13 transgender voters and 73 expatriate voters.
A total of 5,281 candidates are contesting: 83 for district panchayat, 489 for block panchayats, 4,032 for grama panchayats and 677 for municipalities.
Ballot papers with the names and symbols of the candidates were pasted into the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) which are kept securely in the vaults of the distribution and receipt centres. Electoral materials will be distributed to 11 blocks and six municipalities starting Monday at 8:00 AM. 724 vehicles were arranged to facilitate the smooth movement of officials to the polling stations. In addition, 134 vehicles were allocated for sector officers.
Kottayam District Collector and Chief Electoral Officer Chetan Kumar Meena announced that the election day will be a public holiday in the district. Institutions operating as distribution-income centers and polling stations will also remain closed on December 8 and 9.
A total of 9,514 polling units and 3,403 control units are prepared for the elections. A total of 9,272 officials were assigned electoral duties. The District Collector also emphasized on strict adherence to environmental guidelines during the election process.
A mock poll will be held on Tuesday at 6:00 a.m. in the presence of representatives of the political parties, and the actual voting will begin only after the machines have been cleared.
The EVMs will be moved from the distribution and receipt centers to the vaults after the voting is over. Counting will be held at the same centers on December 13, while postal ballots for district panchayat divisions will be counted at the district panchayat hall.
Published – 07 Dec 2025 20:37 IST
