Concerns over increase in number of migrant workers in voters list: Other state workers to decide who will run local bodies in Kerala?

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Concerns are being raised about whether migrant workers will decide who will run the local bodies in Kerala. When the deadline for new registration expired on August 12, the total number of applicants was 29.81 lakh. A good portion of this is indicated to be voters from other states. This has surprised even the Commission.

They are from Bihar, Bengal and Assam. The Election Commission's position is that they cannot be rejected if they apply by presenting specific documents. Since the list is prepared only for the state of Kerala, the State Election Commissioner cannot check whether they have votes in other states. There is also no way to calculate the exact number.

Voters in local elections are determined by the State Election Commissioner. It has no connection with the National Election Commission. Until fifteen years ago, local elections were also conducted based on the voters' list of the Central Commission. Now the list is being prepared directly. This is to facilitate the preparation of the list at the ward level. The final list will be published on August 30.

Involvement of some organizations and parties suspected

• It is suspected that some organizations and parties are inciting them to become voters on the assumption that they will vote for whoever they point at without asking any questions.
• A bank passbook or a letter from a member of the local body is sufficient to prove that they are local residents. This is widely used.
• If the EROs have any doubts regarding the name, age and residence, they can check any of the following: Voter ID card, college student ID card, passport, driving license, PAN card, SSLC book with photo, pass book with photo issued by any nationalized bank before January 1, 2025, Aadhaar card, ration card, residential certificate, etc.

Miscalculation

16.02 lakh voters had to be included when the 2019 Lok Sabha electoral roll was revised for the 2024 elections. When allegations were raised after the elections, it was revised in 2025 for purification and it was confirmed that there were 2.77 crore voters.

• There were 2.76 crore voters in the 2020 local body list. When it was revised in 2025, it came down to 2.66 crore.
• The revision was made by including 46,000 people and excluding 9.78 lakh people who were dead or absent.
• The difference in voters in the lists revised by the Kerala State Commission and the Central Commission in 2025: 10.42 lakh.
• When it was expected that this many people would be added to the local body list, the number crossed 29 lakh.