Kerala Assembly polls 2026: Pathanamthitta gears up for Assembly polls

With just a couple of days left for polling, all arrangements are in place for the smooth conduct of the Assembly elections in Pathanamthitta. District Collector and Election Officer S Prem Krishnan held a review on Monday to assess the final phase of preparations.

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The district has 9,74,802 registered voters, including 5,08,251 women, 4,66,546 men and 5 transgender voters. Voting will take place across 1,207 polling stations, including 25 women-friendly booths . 121 sectoral officers have been deployed on duty. Mock drills have been conducted to ensure readiness, and approximately 6,000 officers have been appointed for polling duties.

Polling officers are receiving training at voter facilitation centres and postal voting centres have been set up in all constituencies for essential service personnel. Communication and control rooms are fully operational and voter information slips are being distributed. Mobile phones are prohibited inside polling stations; voters can deposit their phones in designated depositories outside the entry gates.

All polling booths are equipped with webcasting facilities, with cameras positioned both inside and outside the booths. Presiding officers will update polling information every two hours via the PR app. The Saksham app ensures volunteers and wheelchair assistance for differently-abled voters.

The Collector noted that any discrepancy between votes at the polling station and the control unit will be reconciled by counting slips at the Returning Officer’s office.

According to the District Police Chief R Anand, around 3,000 police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order. Security will be tightened at 25 sensitive booths, polling material distribution centers, and counting centers. The police will also enforce all legal provisions issued by the Election Commission at the close of campaigning and called for the cooperation of political parties to ensure peaceful elections.

Election campaigning will conclude at 6 p.m on Tuesday. Candidates and parties have been directed to comply with the model code of conduct and green protocols while wrapping up their campaigns. The district’s Anti-Defacement Squad has till April 5 removed 24,697 campaign materials, including 18,759 posters, 1,741 banners, and 4,187 other boards.