The Election Commission of Kerala has officially announced the dates for the upcoming local body elections. The state will head to the polls on December 9 and December 11, with the vote count scheduled for December 13. This announcement sets the stage for widespread participation in local governance.
District-wise, the polling has been divided into two phases. December 9 is designated for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, and Ernakulam. The subsequent phase on December 11 will cover Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod.
Elections are slated for 1,199 local self-governing bodies. Post-ward delimitation, Kerala now boasts 23,612 wards, an increase from the earlier 21,900. Excluding the 36 wards of Mattannur, voting will occur across 23,576 wards.
Key dates for the election process have also been released. Aspiring candidates must file their nominations by November 21, followed by scrutiny on November 22. The deadline for withdrawing nominations is November 24. The Election Commission is establishing a dedicated body to combat fake news and misinformation. The final voter list will be published on November 14, and voting will take place between 7 am and 6 pm on both designated polling days.