Overview
- Open campaigning ended at 6 p.m. on December 7, a silent day is in effect on December 8, and voting runs 7 a.m.–6 p.m. on December 9.
- Phase 1 spans Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam, covering 595 local bodies with 11,168 wards and 15,432 polling stations.
- About 1.32 crore electors and 36,630 candidates are in the fray on Tuesday, with the State Election Commission emphasizing high turnout and orderly conduct.
- EVMs and control units are sealed in strong rooms, thousands of polling staff and vehicles are deployed, mock polls start at 6 a.m., and sensitive booths will have live webcasting and videography with heavy police presence.
- The two-phase exercise concludes with Phase 2 on December 11 in the remaining seven districts and counting on December 13, in a three-front contest shaped by civic issues, the Sabarimala gold theft case, allegations against Rahul Mamkootathil, and fluid local alliances.