Assembly election in Kerala: Single phase polling begins

Polling began with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols.

In many places, long queues were seen outside the polling stations.

Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) along with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are being used in the polling booths across the state.

Before starting the actual poll, a mock poll was conducted at every polling station, in the presence of polling agents of the candidates and the electronic result of the Control Unit and the VVPAT slips count are tallied and shown to them.

However, polling delayed due to malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at a few places including in Thodupuzha, Kasaragod and Malappuram, sources said.

The fate of 957 candidates, who are in the fray will be decided by 2,74,46,039 voters including 1,32,83,724 males, 1,41,62,025 females and 290 transgenders.

Out of the total voters, 5,18,520 are first-time voters.

A total of 40,771 polling booths were arranged across the state.

As COVID-19 protocol is in force, the last one hour of the voting is reserved for COVID patients.

Visually challenged people will have facility to cast their vote without depending on others. Dummy ballot papers in Braille script were arranged in every booth, the sources said.

Voting was also commenced for Malappuram Lok Sabha byelection at 0700 hours this morning.

Out of the 140 seats, polling will be held till 1800 hrs in 9 constituencies and in 131 constituencies voting will be allowed till 1900 hours.

Six candidates are contesting the Lok Sabha bypoll for Malappuram seat.