Overview
- Polling began at 7 a.m. with the State Election Commissioner describing the process as peaceful in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam.
- Phase I covers 11,168 wards in 595 local bodies with 1,32,83,789 eligible voters and 36,630 candidates on the ballot.
- By 9:30 a.m., turnout had crossed about 14.5% according to the State Election Commission’s early figures.
- Voting was postponed in Vizhinjam after a candidate’s death and some booths saw delays due to machine malfunctions, with replacement EVMs deployed at affected centers.
- Senior leaders including V. D. Satheesan and Union Minister Suresh Gopi cast their ballots, while Phase II voting is scheduled for December 11 with counting to start on December 13.