Silent campaigning on Wednesday; 2.71 crore voters to cast votes on Thursday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state will observe a silent campaign on Wednesday ahead of polling. Around 2.71 crore voters will head to polling booths on Thursday. The future of the state administration will be decided as voters in all 140 constituencies cast their votes using electronic voting machines. Nearly two lakh people have already voted from home.

Auxiliary booths to manage crowding have been set up only in Kannur, Kasaragod, Malappuram, Palakkad, and Ernakulam districts. A total of 2,040 booths in the state are classified as critical. There are 352 booths managed entirely by women officials and 37 booths handled by differently-abled staff. As many as 884 booths will function as model polling stations. The state has also set up 140 polling collection centres and 140 counting centres across 43 locations.

Restrictions on exit polls
Exit polls have been banned from 7 AM on Tuesday until 6 PM on the 29th, when polling ends in different states. Opinion polls are also banned until 6 PM on the 9th. Arrangements have been made to help voters coming from other states to cast their votes. The Election Commission has also arranged travel facilities for students from Puducherry’s JIPMER to participate in voting.

2,71,42,952 voters in state
Service voters: 53,984
Total candidates: 883
Polling booths: 30,495
Auxiliary booths: 24
Maximum voters per booth: 1,200

76,000 police personnel for security
Around 76,000 police personnel, including members of the central armed forces, special police units, volunteers, and the Kerala Police, will be deployed for security. Liquor sales have been banned from 6 PM on Tuesday until 6 PM on the 9th in view of polling.

Postal and home voting
Postal voting for polling officials and essential service workers, as well as home voting for senior citizens above 85 and differently-abled persons, will be completed today. Out of 2,07,757 home voters, 98% have already cast their votes. Among police and essential service workers, 34,138 people applied for postal voting, and 95% have already voted. Around 1.46 lakh polling officials are eligible for postal voting, but only 40% have voted so far. The remaining officials will vote today at special centres set up at polling material distribution points, where multiple counters have been arranged.

“All polling booths are ready. Distribution of polling materials will take place today.”
-Dr. Rathan U Kelkar.
Chief Election Officer